The CFMEU administrator gave permission to its Victorian chief, Zach Smith, to meet former leader John Setka as part of his role managing the state union, union sources say, as fresh questions are raised about the branch’s ties to the old guard.

The contact comes as the Fair Work Commission revealed in Senate estimates it had received repeated allegations that Smith, who is CFMEU national secretary as well as the administration’s executive director of Victoria, was maintaining ties with Setka. The union watchdog is investigating the matter.