Queensland’s Premier has slammed the behaviour of CFMEU protesters who entered a state government building. 

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says workers’ safety was put at risk when Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) members entered the Transport and Main Roads building in Brisbane last week. 

More than 200 CFMEU members rallied in the department’s conference room, preventing a planned event from proceeding, a Transport and Main Roads spokesperson said.

The department said three senior members of the CFMEU had been invited to attend the briefing. 

A security guard was allegedly knocked down when union members went through the front doors, but has since indicated they will not press charges.

The issue “seems like a bit of a storm in a teacup” according to the union. CFMEU assistant secretary Jade Ingham said the department’s decision to lock down the building was irrational.

“A bunch of fluoro shirts attended the meeting and unfortunately some people panicked about that,” he said.

“Workers simply just wanted to go and listen about industry projects that were coming up.

“We attended a meeting, the meeting got cancelled and we left.”

Queensland Police has confirmed that officers were called to the office building on Mary Street following reports of a large group entering the premises.

“The group was monitored by officers for several hours but following negotiation a peaceful departure from the group occurred just before 12pm. No further complaints have been made,” a spokesperson said in a statement.

Ms Palaszczuk says it was unacceptable. 

“No worker should go to work fearing for their safety ... it is disgraceful behaviour,” she said.

“That footage is incredibly disturbing and I would have hated being a person there with that happening ... they owe an apology to those workers who were subjected to that and who felt unsafe.”

The state’s Transport Minister Mark Bailey says he met with the union the day before the event, but had not been told about the planned rally.

“There was no indication made to me in the meeting with [CFMEU state secretary Michael Ravbar] on the Monday, he gave no indication about that whatsoever.

“If he had, I would have raised it immediately with my [director-general] and we would have made preparations to make sure that our staff were protected.”

The state’s Liberal opposition is calling for Mr Bailey to be stood down while an investigation takes place.

“To organise 200 CFMEU members overnight has to be planned, and as if they didn’t tell the minister,” LNP deputy leader Jarrod Bleijie said. 

The LNP also said that the Labor government should give hundreds of thousands of dollars in CFMEU donations to an anti-bullying charity if it was serious in its condemnation of the rally.