Union boss allegedly caught on camera taking cash bribe under the table in latest CFMEU expose
Hidden camera footage allegedly showing a powerful union boss accepting a cash bribe has engulfed the disgraced CFMEU – and the government – in crisis.
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One of the most powerful organisations in the Australian trade labour movement is engulfed in a crisis after more damning allegations of criminal activity at its highest levels.
A series of exposes published by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age newspapers about the shadowy dealings of the CFMEU have forced the Federal Government to intervene, appointing an administrator to seize control of the union and “clear out and get rid of” its dark elements.
The latest revelation, published in Nine Newspapers today, shows footage from a hidden camera, concealed by police in the Sydney office of the CFMEU, of state secretary Darren Greenfield allegedly receiving a $5000 bribe.
In the clip, Mr Greenfield can allegedly be seen accepting a wad of cash from a developer seeking support from the union on a project. Ten minutes later, it allegedly shows him stashing the money in a desk drawer.
Mr Greenfield and his son Michael, the CFMEU’s assistant secretary, were charged with serious corruption offences in late 2021.
The pair has denied any wrongdoing and the matters remain before the courts.
Additional allegations aired on 60 Minutes on Sunday and published across Nine’s mastheads on Monday and Tuesday claimed the Victorian branch engaged in intimidation and corrupt conduct with building companies.
Bikies and other organised crime figures had been lobbed into roles within the CFMEU, it was also alleged.
The state secretary John Setka resigned with immediate effect on Sunday. The union’s national executive made the decision to place the Victorian branch into administration.
Mr Setka has denied any wrongdoing.
Government in crisis
Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke said the revelations are “abhorrent and intolerable”, leading to the decision for the Fair Work Commission to manage the administration process, which is not limited to Victoria and New South Wales.
Mr Burke rejected calls for the union to be deregistered and said the matter of whether the CFMEU should remain part of the Labor Party would be considered by others.
The national executive of the Labor Party is expected to meet on Thursday to discuss the crisis.
Mr Burke rubbished calls for Labor to hand over mammoth donations it has received from the CFMEU in recent years.
“The concept of handing money back is one of the most astonishing and absurd ideas I’ve seen. Are the Liberal Party seriously suggesting that at this moment the action of the government should be that we hand money to the CFMEU?
“That’s what they are arguing and I just find it, of all the things to suggest … with all this evidence, that we should give money to the CFMEU is absurd.”
Mr Burke insisted neither he nor his department had any knowledge of the allegations exposed in recent days.
‘Only just scratching the surface’
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has slammed that claim, saying the allegations have “all been public knowledge”.
“The minister says he’s never received a briefing in relation to it,” Mr Dutton said. “It lacks credibility. I think what we’re seeing at the moment from the CFMEU, their thuggish behaviour, the criminal conduct – we’re only just scratching the surface.
“My view is, this will turn out to be (a) defrauding of the Australian taxpayer in our country’s history. We’re talking about tens or hundreds of millions of dollars added to contracts, or subverted otherwise.”
He called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to act more strongly on the matter, describing the government’s current response as “weak”.
“The weakest possible response from Anthony Albanese would be to appoint an administrator to the CFMEU. That’s like going into one of the bikie organisations and the police saying, ‘Let’s just change out the leadership here … and somehow the activities of the bikies will correct itself’.
“It’s complete nonsense. It’s an abrogation of the Prime Minister’s responsibility. The only thing that’s changed is the Prime Minister’s mates have been caught on tape. The Prime Minister has known of the activities of the CFMEU for years and years. He’s chosen to do nothing about it.”
The CFMEU did not respond to a request for comment.
Earlier on Wednesday, NSW Premier Chris Minns called for the immediate suspension of the CFMEU from the Labor Party.
Mr Minns also announced the state branch of the Labor Party would stop accepting donations from the union.
In a statement, the industry group Master Builders Australia said it supported the move to appoint an administrator but still wants to see more done.
“Master Builders will continue to work with the Federal Government about taking a holistic urgent approach to this issue, including an ACCC investigation,” the statement read.
“It has been extensively documented in four Royal Commissions, dozens of inquiries and reviews, and hundreds of court judgments. The time for talking is over – what we need now is real action to fix this problem once and for all.
“More action will still be needed to hold recidivist officials accountable, and a strong building regulator must be reinstated. We urge all political parties to set politics aside and work together to ensure the passage of legislation to remove any barriers to the investigations.”
Originally published as Union boss allegedly caught on camera taking cash bribe under the table in latest CFMEU expose
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