New CFMEU row after Liberal MP tells parliament Labor ‘condones’ intimidation for allowing John Setka’s union tram advertising

Outrage over a CFMEU-branded tram that allegedly “triggered” the estranged and fearful wife of union boss John Setka has erupted in parliament.

CFMEU state secretary John Setka appears on the side of a tram as part of a union advertising campaign. Picture: Supplied

Powerful union boss John Setka has been allowed to traumatise his estranged wife by the state government’s refusal to pull controversial public transport advertising, parliament has been told.

Under parliamentary privilege, Liberal MP David Pisoni lashed Labor and Premier Peter Malinauskas for failing to act on the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union’s advertisement on an Adelaide tram estimated to have cost $50,000.

Mr Pisoni said Mr Setka’s estranged wife, mother-of-two Emma Walters, 46, was triggered after seeing it the tram, which she uses with her children.

Late on Tuesday a government spokesman said the advert would be removed in mid-January and not renewed.

Emma Walters, estranged wife of CFMEU leader John Setka. Picture: Arsineh Houspian

Mr Pisoni, a former Liberal cabinet minister, told MPs last week that Labor was allowing Mr Setka – who denies any wrongdoing – to “unlawfully intimidate” Ms Walters after she “fled” Victoria.

He accused Mr Setka, whose Victorian division has successfully taken over the CFMEU’s SA branch, of being a “man with a shocking history when it comes to the treatment of women”.

Mr Pisoni told parliament when she first learnt that her “perpetrator’s picture had been blown up and splashed all over the side of a tram, she immediately felt a sense of complete despair and was overwhelmed with abject fear”.

CFMEU leader John Setka pictured in Adelaide. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

“The Transport Minister (Tom Koutsantonis) has admitted that this kind of advertising by the CFMEU is prohibited on our trams but, despite this, the Premier is refusing to take it down,” he told parliament.

“Emma says that this shows that they have no consideration for the emotional and psychological damage this has on a victim.

“She told us, and I quote: ‘This is a government supporting a very powerful man with significant resources behind him – CFMEU funds, members’ money – to unlawfully intimidate the victims and the government is condoning it’. It really is disgraceful.”

Mr Pisoni said Ms Walters, who has returned to Adelaide from Melbourne, believed a giant poster of a “power-hungry” Mr Setka conflicted with union principles.

“Our government is not meant to participate in instilling fear in victims of domestic violence,” Mr Pisoni said. “Premier, it takes a man to stand up to a man to stop domestic violence.”

An Adelaide Tram at Glenelg with the CFMEU advertising. Picture: Jo Schulz

The Premier’s spokesman said: “This government has a strong record of taking meaningful action supporting victims of domestic and family violence, including reversing the former Liberal government’s cuts to (crisis organisation) Catherine House.”

Mr Setka, 58, has repeatedly denied any allegations of domestic abuse but was convicted in 2019 of harassing his wife and was placed on a one-year good-behaviour bond.

Ms Walters refused to comment. A CFMEU spokeswoman did not respond to inquiries.

The estranged wife of construction union boss John Setka, Emma Walters is seen outside the Adelaide Magistrates Court. NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz