John Setka accused of using Dustin Martin to manipulate his estranged wife

Victorian construction union head John Setka has been accused of using Richmond footballer Dustin Martin as part of a bid to manipulate his estranged wife Emma Walters, who has fled the family home amid domestic violence allegations.

Walters confirmed she is in crisis accommodation at an undisclosed location with the couple’s two children. Setka has repeatedly denied allegations of domestic violence.

CFMEU Victorian secretary John Setka Credit: Eddie Jim

“What I can say is I’m in crisis care and that the [domestic violence] organisation advised me to leave the home,” Walters said. “Once they did the risk assessment they gave me about 40 minutes to leave with two children and two dogs … I’m now in crisis care.”

Since Walters fled the home, she said Setka had continued to try to contact her and the two children. On Thursday Setka used WhatsApp to send a short video featuring Martin directed towards their children where the football star offers to take the children out for lunch.

“Hey [children’s names], I hope you’re both going well,” the Richmond star says in the self-filmed video. “I’m just away on holidays at the moment, but when I get back we’ll have to go out for lunch.

“See you soon,” Martin says, and gives a thumbs up sign.

Walters said she had never met Martin but felt it was an attempt to pressure her children, who are Richmond fans.

“It’s really hard, I’ve got to mitigate the kids’ response that Dusty Martin is in contact with them.”

There is no suggestion that Martin was aware of the family history or that the video could have the effect it did. Dustin Martin’s management declined to comment or explain how he had come to record the video.

A CFMEU spokesperson said Setka, the Victorian secretary of the Construction, Forestry, Mining & Energy Union (CFMEU), had no contact with Martin “and definitely didn’t ask him or ask anyone else to get a video made.”

“A mate sent John the video, and as he and the kids are all mad Richmond supporters, like any kid he knew his kids would be so excited to see it,” the spokesperson said.

Richmond footballer Dustin Martin.Credit: AFL Photos

The CFMEU spokesperson said Setka only became aware his estranged wife was in crisis accommodation late on Thursday. “He can only assume her increased fragile state and paranoia has led her to make the change.”

Walters said she had recently cut off contact with Setka after she alleged he was abusive. The domestic violence organisation said in writing, based on an assessment on information provided by Walters, that Setka posed an “imminent risk” to the family’s safety.

“I’ve ceased contact between him and the children because of the effect his verbal and emotional abuse is having on the children,” she said. “Yet John Setka is still trying to contact me via WhatsApp and via Dustin Martin.”

She said Setka was a Richmond supporter and was close friends with the family of Richmond footballer Noah Balta. Steve Balta is a CFMEU shop steward and his brother Ivan is a senior Electrical Trades Union official and Noah Balta’s father.

Setka, who was convicted of harassing Walters in 2019, has repeatedly verbally abused Walters.

In February, The Age reported a taped phone conversation in which he repeatedly called her a “f---ing dog”, called her a “liar” and said she had “made a c--- of yourself”.

“All you’re good at is calling the coppers and acting like a f---ing dog, that’s all you’re good at”.

In 2019, the ACTU leadership including secretary Sally McManus as well as much of the union movement called on Setka, the Victorian secretary of the CFMEU, to resign after he was charged and later convicted of domestic violence offences.

The charges included harassing Ms Walters and breaching intervention orders after he made more than 25 calls and sent 45 text messages in which he called her a “weak f---en piece of shit” and a “treacherous Aussie f---en c---” and a “f---en dog”. Setka remains the head of the Victorian construction division.

Magistrate Belinda Wallington said during his 2019 sentencing for previous harassment offences that Setka’s behaviour had been “nasty” and “misogynistic”.

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