Senior CFMEU organiser charged over alleged threats to kill

A CFMEU organiser has been charged with making threats to kill and inflict serious injury. It comes as site bosses on Big Build projects were told to call police if the powerful union’s ex boss John Setka trespassed.

CFMEU Indigenous organiser Joel Shackleton has been arrested and charged with making threats to kill and inflict serious injury.

Victoria Police on Thursday night told the Herald Sun detectives from the financial crime squad had charged a 40-year-old Beveridge man as part of their investigation into alleged assault threats.

He had been bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on November 22, police said.

“Investigators will allege the man made threats to inflict serious injury on two owners of a labour hire company,” a police spokeswoman said.

If found guilty, Mr Shackleton could face up to 10 years’ jail.

CFMEU Indigenous organiser Joel Shackleton has been arrested. Picture: AFP

It is understood he was charged over alleged threats to kill an Indigenous labour hire owner who he was recorded telling “I’ll f---ing take your soul and rip your f---ing head off”.

A video of Shackleton allegedly threatening to bash two owners of Indigenous labour hire firm Marda Dandhi in March 2022 surfaced afterwards.

Shackleton was allegedly recorded telling one owner that he would “f---ing end you c--- and you know it, don’t f--- with me. I’ll f---ing take your soul and I’ll rip your f---ing head off.”

It’s claimed the second company owner was called a “f---ing dog” and “germ” and threatened with violence.

The comments were understood to have been made at a Victorian government Big Build site run by civil contractor CPB.

It comes as site bosses on Victoria’s Big Build have been told to call police if former CFMEU boss John Setka trespasses again, as he continues to snub his nose at workplace laws and the government.

Mr Setka gained access to one of the $14bn Metro Tunnel sites on Thursday morning, despite having no right of entry permit or union accreditation.

It followed his visit to the Footscray Hospital site on Wednesday where he launched a vicious tirade against Labor and senior federal ministers.

Mr Setka resigned as state secretary of the powerful Victorian branch of the CFMEU in July, following allegations the union was involved in kickbacks for jobs and coercion on building sites, and had links to underworld figures — some of whom were delegates.

Big Build bosses have been told to call police if former CFMEU boss John Setka trespasses again. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

In recent days the controversial former state secretary, who has often said he would break laws if they were “bad”, has been revving up union troops over the Commonwealth decision to place the CFMEU into administration.

The decision to put the union into administration means non-union officials will oversee its activities for at least three years, in what government ministers say is a bid to clean up a “rotten culture” within the CFMEU.

Mr Setka claims he resigned with an assurance from senior Labor figures the union would not be put into administration, claims denied by the government.

The Herald Sun has spoken to workers at major taxpayer-funded building sites after the Footscray Hospital and Metro Tunnel appearances, both of which were illegal because he did not have a right of entry permit.

They say senior site managers had asked what they should do if Mr Setka arrived at their job, and were told to call the police because he would be trespassing.

Premier Jacinta Allan said police were investigating the Footscray Hospital incident, and urged Mr Setka to stop touring taxpayer-funded projects.