Anthony Albanese moves to expel CFMMEU leader John Setka from Labor Party

Union boss John Setka has accused Labor of “dirty politics” after Anthony Albanese said he would move to expel him from the party after his comments about Rosie Batty.

Militant union leader John Setka has hit back after Anthony Albanese announced he would move to expel him from the Labor Party.

The Labor leader said Mr Setka had brought the party into “disrepute” over offensive comments about domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty, which the CFMMEU leader slammed as an outright lie.

Mr Albanese earlier said the CFMMEU Victorian secretary’s membership with the ALP had been immediately suspended.

Mr Setka claims he was “taken out of context” after reportedly telling a union meeting that Ms Batty’s advocacy had led to men having fewer rights.

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Anthony Albanese said John Setka did not belong in the Labor Party because of his views. Picture: Supplied

Mr Setka told The New Daily: “People are making up lies about what I said. Every time I see Rosie Batty I want to give her a hug.

“I would rather be called corrupt. It’s not even an exaggeration of what I said. It’s an outright lie.

“I’ve got people portraying me as a Neanderthal.

“This is dirty politics and this wrong. I’ve got the utmost respect for Rosie Batty. It’s sickening to me. If Albo wants to expel me for that? Please.”

He added he would not resign as the CFMMEU’s Victorian secretary.

“I’ve been elected by the union members. They are my bosses: If they want me to leave I will step down tomorrow,” he told The New Daily.

“But I am not going stand down over innuendo and lies people have made up. This is dirty ALP politics.”

Mr Setka said he once commented in a union meeting that lawyers had said laws were now skewed against men following the Victorian royal commission into family violence and Ms Batty’s campaigns.

But that wasn’t a criticism of the domestic violence campaigner, he said.

Mr Setka yesterday made offensive comments about domestic violence advocate Rosie Batty. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Mr Albanese made the explosive announcement this morning at a press conference in Perth, saying: “John Setka does not belong in our party because of the views that he holds.”

“Rosie Batty is a great campaigner against family violence and the idea that she should be denigrated by someone like John Setka is completely unacceptable to me as leader of the Australian Labor Party and I don’t want him in our party. It’s that simple,” Mr Albanese told reporters in Perth.

He added Mr Setka had made “completely unacceptable” comments on a “range of occasions”, including his remarks about the children of people who work for the ABCC.

“My concern here is that John Setka undermines the credibility of the trade union movement through the position that he holds and the public views that he’s expressed.”

Mr Setka will remain a member of the ALP, although suspended, until the next meeting of the ALP’s national executive, when Mr Albanese will personally move for him to be expelled.

In a statement this morning, the Labor leader clarified that Mr Setka’s expulsion was not related to criminal charges Mr Setka is facing regarding the alleged harassment of a woman, which are currently before the court.

“My action is based on a range of actions by Mr Setka, including his recent disparaging comments about family violence campaigner Rosie Batty,” Mr Albanese said.

“These comments are completely incompatible with the values of the Labor Party and the broader labour movement.

“The party that I lead stands against the scourge of family violence and strongly supports Ms Batty’s campaigning on this important issue.”

Mr Albanese said Labor supports the work of Rosie Batty. Picture: Supplied

Prime Minister Scott Morrison took a swipe at the CFMMEU today as Labor moved to expel Mr Setka, saying: “They can root out one Labor thug in the union movement but there’s plenty more where John Setka came from.”

“The CFMMEU is one of the most litigated against and charged unions in the country. Their charge sheet is longer than your arm and John Setka is just one of many,” he said.

Mr Morrison also said Mr Setka should have stepped down “a long time ago”.

Earlier, Mr Albanese distanced himself from Mr Setka, saying “I’ve never met the bloke” and “I have no relationship with this bloke”.

“He’s the Secretary of the Victorian branch of the CFMMEU. I do have relationships with people in the CFMMEU - people like Dave Noonan, the national secretary, who I believe is a good trade unionist,” he told ABC radio in Perth.

Senior Labor frontbencher Penny Wong also weighed in today, telling ABC radio: “He should certainly consider his position.”

Senator Wong added Mr Setka’s comments about domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty were “completely unacceptable” and “not in step with the values of the broader labour movement or the Labor Party”.

The ALP national executive will meet on July 5.

Originally published as Anthony Albanese moves to expel CFMMEU leader John Setka from Labor Party