John Setka’s wife Emma Walters blows .28 after Boxing Day row
The high-flying lawyer wife of union boss John Setka allegedly blew almost six times the legal alcohol limit on Boxing Day while speeding with her two young children in the car, just hours after the couple argued at their home in Melbourne’s west.
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EXCLUSIVE: The high-flying lawyer wife of union boss John Setka allegedly blew almost six times the legal alcohol limit on Boxing Day while speeding with her two young children in the car.
Highway patrol officers stopped Emma Walters in western Victoria, with police saying she “returned an evidentiary breath test of .282”, just hours after the couple argued at their home in Melbourne’s west.
Ms Walters, who was until recently employed by law firm Gordon Legal and was once tipped for a safe Labor seat, was stopped by police more than 300km from Melbourne. She was allegedly heading to Adelaide.
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The Herald Sun revealed on Thursday that Mr Setka, the Victorian boss of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union, was arrested after police went to the couple’s West Footscray home on Boxing Day following reports of an argument.
He was charged with a court order offence and is due in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court next week.
The relationship between Mr Setka and Ms Walters is believed to have broken down recently.
Mr Setka is understood to have taken personal leave from the union, with CFMMEU sources tight-lipped about his future.
The Morrison Government has demanded Opposition Leader Bill Shorten force Mr Setka to resign from the ALP and the union.
Police spokeswoman Senior Sgt Nicole Warner said Horsham officers intercepted a 43-year-old woman for allegedly speeding along the Western Highway in Pimpinio at 8pm on December 26.
“Two children aged 5 years and 7 years were in the car with her at the time,” Sen Sgt Warner said.
“The woman returned an Evidentiary Breath Test of .282 and will be charged on summons to appear at court at a later date.”
Federal Jobs and Industrial Relations Minister Kelly O’Dwyer said Mr Shorten must call on Mr Setka to resign from the ALP and the CFMMEU.
Ms O’Dwyer, also the Minister for Women, said the allegations against Mr Setka were “disturbing”.
“Bill Shorten relies on John Setka and his militant CFMMEU for leadership votes and for donations. And every single time Bill Shorten has failed the leadership test when it comes to the CFMMEU and its leadership,” she said.
Mr Setka said “ongoing political and ideological attacks on myself as a union leader” had placed an “enormous strain” on his family.
Ms O’Dwyer said: “The idea that John Setka would seek to blame his (alleged) actions on the federal government or Minister for Industrial Relations is outrageous.”
Ms Walters was contacted for comment.