John Setka was “misrepresented” over Rosie Batty comments says boss of CFMEU SA branch Andrew Sutherland

The head of the South Australian branch of the CFMEU has publicly defended embattled union leader John Setka.

The head of the South Australian branch of the CFMEU has backed John Setka saying the construction union boss did not criticise anti-violence campaigner Rosie Batty at a national executive meeting.

SA branch secretary Andrew Sutherland has added his voice to union officials defending the boss of the union’s powerful Victorian branch, who is facing expulsion from the ALP over what Mr Setka maintains were “fabricated” reports he denigrated Ms Batty.

Mr Sutherland, who is also the union’s national assistant secretary, said in a letter to members sent today that Mr Setka’s comments had been publicly misrepresented.

CFMEU SA acting state secretary Andrew Sutherland supports John Setka.

“I was at the meeting in question and was sitting close to John,” he wrote in the letter.

“What I saw was a person trying to express his personal experience of the issues he and his family have been facing.

“At no time did I feel he was trying to disparage Rosie Batty or the excellent work she’s done to highlight domestic and gender based violence in our society.

“I believe that the leaking of comments that were so clearly John’s private experiences within a private meeting is disgraceful.”

It had been reported that Mr Setka told the national executive meeting that Ms Batty’s advocacy work had led to men having fewer rights. He has repeatedly denied the comments.

But ALP leader Anthony Albanese plans to expel Mr Setka from the party over the comments, prompting Mr Setka to threaten to withdraw millions of dollars in funding.

Five Victorian unions yesterday declared their support for Mr Setka, saying any decision on his future in the union movement should be decided by members.

Mr Sutherland said the CFMEU was an “unqualified” supporter of the rights of women.

“We demand those qualities in the workplace and we demand them in the home,” he said.

“These are values that the whole labour movement shares and we carry them proudly.

“At no time did I believe John was expressing anything counter to these values.”

The head of the Australian Council of Trade Unions Sally McManus has asked Mr Setka to resign over chages he allegedly harassed a woman.

In 2017, Victorian Police charged Setka with the alleged harassment of a woman and allegedly recklessly causing her injury. A plea hearing has been set for later this month. Police have withdrawn many of the charges, with Setka’s lawyers indicating he will plead guilty to two charges of harassment, including by carriage service via texts and phone calls.

These include 45 text messages Setka sent to the woman calling her a “c**t”, “drunken moron” and a “weak f****n piece of s**t”.