Six people have joined the legal team of the inquiry into the CFMEU launched by the Queensland government, after its leading lawyer and three others left last week.

Two Victorian silks – Patrick Wheelahan KC and Mark Costello KC – join as the new senior counsel assisting, along with barristers Daniel Caruana, Alastair Smith, Sophie Harburg and Madeleine Stone in assisting commissioner Stuart Wood KC.

They replace the former senior counsel assisting Liam Kelly KC and junior barristers Kate Juhasz, Polina Kinchina and Ben Dighton, who this masthead reported left following Kelly’s issues with the management and operation of the inquiry .

Patrick Wheelahan KC (left); and Mark Costello KC have joined the inquiry.

Senior public servant Bob Gee had been appointed the inquiry’s secretary but

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