John Setka given behaviour bond over harassment charge
CFMEU boss John Setka has avoided jail and been placed on a one-year good behaviour bond over a barrage of “misogynist” and “nasty” texts sent to his wife, who identified herself as the victim.
Law & Order
Don't miss out on the headlines from Law & Order. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Union boss John Setka has spoken out against domestic violence saying “I screwed up” as he was spared jail for harassing his wife with a barrage of “misogynist” and “nasty” texts.
Emma Walters today identified herself as the victim of her husband’s harassment.
The Melbourne Magistrates Court heard Setka, 54, tried calling his wife, Emma Walters, 25 times and sent her 45 messages containing “insults and offensive language” on one night during their marriage breakdown in October last year.
Ms Walters, who supported her husband in court as they try to rebuild their relationship, turned her head up to ceiling as the content of the messages were read out, where he called her a “drunken moron”, “c----“ “f------ dog” and “weak piece of sh--”.
He also sent her photos of them together but her face was blacked out in a sign he was erasing her from his life, the court heard.
Setka pleaded guilty to using a carriage service to harass, as well as breaching a court order.
The CFMMEU leader was ordered to be of good behaviour for a year.
He must also undergo a men’s behaviour program and make a $1000 donation to the aboriginal family violence support network, Djirra.
Outside court, Setka and Ms Walters stood side-by-side as they declared they wanted to publicly share their story to ensure other couples seek help sooner, like they should have.
“Today I have spoken in support of John as ‘the woman’ at the centre of all of this,” Ms Walters said.
“Despite a lot of rumour and innuendo there is no-one else involved but John and I.
“The truth of this story is that it is simply about my husband and I trying to put our lives back together. “
Ms Walters said they were in a “dark place after years of intense pressure” as her husband faced blackmail charges, which were later dropped, and was a first responder to the traumatic Grocon wall collapse where three young lives were lost in Melbourne’s CBD.
“The emotional strain our family has endured is not something I would wish on any marriage,” Ms Walters said.
“John has had the courage to confront his own behaviour and to change, and to encourage others to seek help before they get as low as we did.”
Setka apologised to his wife, saying he never meant for her to be affected by his stress or behaviour.
“I screwed up. And it’s up to me fix it,” Setka declared.
“I’ve sent messages and used language that I am deeply embarrassed by and regret.
“It’s not okay for us to speak to each other like that. There’s never been any physical violence in our relationship but we’re coming to terms with the fact that words can be just as hurtful.
“But despite the pain and suffering we love each other deeply.”
HOW ESSENDON SAGA DROVE BOMBER TO ICE
BEAMS REVEALS HORRIFIC ABUSE FROM TROLL
Setka said he, and the CFMMEU, has always stood against domestic violence.
“I’ve always said a man who is violent towards a woman is a bloody coward — and not a man at all,” he said.
Magistrate Belinda Wallington had expressed her concerns when sentencing Setka about the “misogynist language” he used in his text messages.
“I’m not dealing with acts of horrendous violence. But it’s still nasty behaviour,” Ms Wallington said.
Setka’s plea comes after 30 charges including recklessly cause injury and assault were withdrawn.
He also used the opportunity to reiterate that he would not be standing down as leader of the CFMMEU.
Premier Daniel Andrews refused to call for Mr Setka to step down from his leadership role with the powerful construction union, despite a push for him to go from the ACTU and other major unions.
“There is no place for violence or harassment of women in Victoria — conduct like this is unacceptable,” Mr Andrews said in a statement this afternoon. “These matters have been dealt with by the court, as is appropriate.
“We fully support the action by the Federal Labor leader to remove Mr Setka from the party. The leadership of the CFMMEU is a matter for its members.”
FULL STATEMENT FROM EMMA WALTERS
Today I have spoken in support of John as ‘the woman’ at the centre of all of this.
Despite a lot of rumour and innuendo there is no-one else involved but John and I.
The truth of this story is that it is simply about my husband and I trying to put our lives back together.
I also want to be clear that John will not be resigning. It’s not what his members want, it’s not what I want. John has spent 35 years dedicated to tirelessly defending the health, safety and living standards of tens of thousands of construction workers and their families.
He has always put his members first, at times at the expense of our family, but this is a sacrifice we willingly bear. His resignation would serve as a devastating loss to the union movement and would bring more unnecessary suffering to our family.
Together we have been through a lot.
John’s behaviour didn’t happen in isolation, we were both in a really dark place after years of intense pressure.
The collapse of the Grocon wall which killed three innocent people, where John assisted first responders — a traumatic incident that could so easily have been avoided, the false accusation arising out of the Trade Union Royal Commission, the charge of blackmail, the arrest by two carloads of heavily armed police — both state and federal, on a quiet Sunday in front of our children — all of this has created a heavy burden.
The emotional strain our family has endured is not something I would wish on any marriage.
I want to be very clear though, that while John and I have at times deeply hurt one another, there has never been any form of physical violence in our marriage or in our home.
We have embarked on a process of healing.
Both of us are taking responsibility for our behaviour and we are getting help from professionals to be sure we never hit rock bottom again.
John has had the courage to confront his own behaviour and to change, and to encourage others to seek help before they get as low as we did.
It’s sad to see that so many people have completely disregarded this. Instead they have preferred to pile on the efforts to tear both of us down. These issues have been used to persecute a political agenda, and it is our family who have been harmed.
It’s disappointing that high profile leaders of the union movement who I have known for years and counted as my friends, have been in the media talking about how devastated they were. All of them have always known I am the woman at the centre of all of this, and not one of them has picked up the phone to hear my side of the story.
In fact, they have all actively worked to silence me and my story in favour of the Labor Party’s line.
Engaged leaders would approach these things differently. What hope have they given other people working through these issues?
These are complicated matters which require understanding and support for families going through them — but instead the message has been don’t talk about it, don’t get help, don’t take responsibility because you risk isolation, persecution, and financial pain.
For those of you who claim to stand up for family values, why then are you trying to tear mine down when we need your support the most.
I love John deeply, I respect the work he does, and I hope others learn to respect it too. I look forward to putting this chapter of our lives behind us. I can only hope we are given the space to continue healing so we can create a brighter future for our family.