Susie O’Brien: While John Setka has power, Labor is compromised

Union boss John Setka’s vilification of anti-domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty makes a joke of Labor’s claims to stand against violence against women, writes Susie O’Brien.

The Labor Party and unions have long paraded their commitment to end violence against women. And yet union and party luminaries are silent on one of the most violent men in their ranks: CFMMEU boss John Setka.

Setka’s shameful history means he is no longer fit to lead the influential Construction Forestry Maritime Mining and Energy Union. At the weekend, Setka further showed his true colours by disparaging anti-violence campaigner Rosie Batty, a former Australian of the Year who was recognised in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Addressing a union meeting, he allegedly said Batty’s actions led to a reduction in men’s rights.

Setka later tried to weasel his way out of the Batty controversy, saying his comments were “deliberately taken out of context”.

I can’t think of any context that would make such an assertion acceptable.

Although Setka’s exact words have not come to light, his recent actions are revealing.

Setka should have been removed from the leadership of the union last month when he pleaded guilty to harassing a woman last year. It’s alleged that he repeatedly rang the woman and sent her text messages calling her a range of vile names. Another 30 charges, including one of recklessly causing injury and assault, were dropped.

During the election campaign, candidates on both sides were disendorsed for much less and yet Setka remains one of Labor’s most powerful figures in the state.

While federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese has spoken out against Setka’s attack on Batty, he has stopped short of calling for him to resign. That makes Labor’s stand against violence a joke.

Even softer was ACTU boss Sally McManus, who on Sunday said she would not comment on the Setka issue while it was before the courts. Belatedly, on Monday afternoon, she called on Setka to apologise for his alleged comments on Batty.

CFMMEU boss John Setka allegedly said Batty’s actions have led to a reduction in men’s rights. Picture: David Geraghty

Let’s not forget: Setka is a man who made his kids hold up a sign to the Australian Building and Construction Commission on Father’s Day saying “go get fu#ked”.

Setka has a long history of abusive acts against employers and ABCC staff — especially those standing up to the powerful union.

In 2012, it was revealed he was convicted or fined by police of 40 serious offences between 1982 and 1991 during a tumultuous time in the construction industry.

So far, Setka has refused to acknowledge his actions and words, repeatedly blaming “passion and bluntness” or the impact of “ideological attacks”. He hasn’t learnt anything.

On Monday, Rosie Batty called Setka’s comments ludicrous. She’s right. Long after Setka has been forgotten as yet another union bovver boy, Batty will be remembered for her courage and grace in the aftermath of her son Luke’s brutal death at the hand of his estranged father, Greg Anderson.

Batty has never been a rabid man-hater intent on bringing her ex-partner down; she was just a mother trying to do the best she could in very difficult circumstances. Her son, Luke, 11, was on a cricket oval where he was killed by his father because Batty allowed him to see his dad. As she’s explained many times, it was what Luke wanted and she let him stay on the oval because she respected the fact that Anderson was his father. If anything, Batty has been respectful of men’s rights, not destructive of them.

In contrast, Setka is the worst kind of bully; he pink-washes his reputation by sending out tweets pledging to stand up against violence and sexual harassment while dolling out abuse to others.

Rosie Batty will be remembered for her courage long after John Setka has been forgotten.

Rosie Batty, the woman Setka disparaged, has done what she set out to do: she’s made a difference.

She’s made sure Luke’s life was not lost in vain. She helped tighten up the intervention order system, making it easier for those facing family violence to get protection.

She has also reminded us that family violence doesn’t just happen on the fringes of society, but in homes where people are educated and middle-class.

Ultimately, though, this isn’t about Setka.

It’s about the 74,000 victims of domestic violence in Victoria each year. It’s about the one woman a week murdered by her partner or former partner.

It’s about the one in four women who have experienced abuse from someone they’ve been in a relationship with since they were 15. It’s about the 85 per cent of women who have been sexually harassed, according to White Ribbon.

MORE SUSIE O’BRIEN
Labor leaders can no longer stand by mutely and do nothing while Setka continues in his role. More also needs to be done within the construction union. It’s time for rank-and-file members of the CFMMEU to rise up and move a motion of no-confidence in their leader.

Albanese, McManus and Andrews say they want to end violence against women, but their words mean nothing while Setka remains in his position of power.

Susie O’Brien is a Herald Sun columnist

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