Wife of union heavyweight feels ‘unprotected’ after court tells her no further intervention orders can be made

The former wife of the CFMEU leader says she’s at her wit’s end after a court said it could make no further protection orders.

The estranged wife of union heavyweight John Setka says she’s “at her wits end” after a court told her there were no further orders they could make to protect her from her ex-husband.

Emma Walters appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court to seek an intervention order in South Australia after what she claimed to be ongoing “coercive control and abuse” from the controversial union leader.

Emma Walters outside the Adelaide Police Headquarters. Picture: David Mariuz

CFMEU leader John Setka. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

But in a closed hearing on Tuesday, a magistrate told her the nationally recognised intervention order that was already in place was sufficient for police to act.

A visibly frustrated Ms Walters told The Advertiser outside of court that she was receiving mixed messages.

“My concerns are that officers of SAPOL are telling me that they can’t investigate, or do anything in relation to a nationally recognised intervention order,” she said

“What the court system is telling me is very different.”

Ms Walters vowed to get to the bottom of the issue with police out of fear that Mr Setka was currently in South Australia.

“All I’m trying to do is protect myself in circumstances where (I believe I’m) at great risk,” she said.

“I don’t feel safe at all. I really don’t.”