Setka denies ‘fabricated’ domestic violence claims

Union boss John Setka has refuted claims he assaulted his wife in a violent outburst at the couple’s home, labelling the allegations as “baseless”.

Emma Walters alleges CFMEU secretary John Setka assaulted her. Picture Jay Town

Union boss John Setka has strongly denied allegations he assaulted his wife during an argument, saying her claims were “baseless and fabricated” in nature.

Melbourne lawyer Emma Walters alleges she was physically assaulted by her husband of 11 years in an “out of control” incident in their western suburbs home on Wednesday.

Ms Walters alleges the CFMEU secretary assaulted her in a violent outburst which left her with bruising to the forehead.

The mother-of-two told the Herald Sun she feared for her safety following the traumatic incident.

Emma Walters says she fears for her safety.

“He bashed my head against the table,” Ms Walters said.

“He took the back of my hair and pushed my head down on the table and said, police aren’t going to protect you.”

But in a statement released to the CFMEU on Friday, Mr Setka denied the allegations.

“The truth is, my wife and I did have an argument and she did call the police,” the statement said.

“I was already packing a bag to leave when Emma called the police because I did not want a repeat of previous nights as it was too upsetting for our children.

“When the police arrived, they were professional and quite frankly very supportive of the terrible situation our family was facing at home.

“The four officers all had body cams and were witness to the fact that there was no assault.

“Emma had no injuries, nor did she claim she had any.”

Mr Setka said his wife had ongoing issues.

“I’ve done nothing but try to support Emma through her challenges over the past few years and have continued to plead with her to get the help she needs.

“It’s disgusting and opportunistic that people who call themselves her friends are more interested in using her fragile state to aid their political agendas against me, as opposed to helping her get the help she so desperately needs.”

“I would never harm my wife and I have done nothing but stand by her.”

CFMEU secretary John Sekta has denied the allegations.

Mr Setka said he would not stand down from his position as secretary of the CFMEU.

“I accept and even expect some political attacks will be made against me but using my personal life is simply unacceptable,” the statement said.

“The media feels it has the right to play out my personal life on a public platform loosely using the term allegations knowing regardless of fact or fiction the damage they can do.”

In a sworn police statement, Ms Walters says her relationship with Mr Setka has been “tense for a long time”.

“We started having a verbal argument and it was getting very heated and aggressive,” she said in the police statement.

“We were arguing about issues with our relationship. It was getting out of control. I was worried what John might do.

“We were standing near a small circular table in the outdoor area. John was on my left side and he grabbed the back of my head and my hair and forced my head in to the table several times. The main impact was on the upper right area of my forehead and there is a red bruise there now. It was very painful.

“John is a lot bigger and stronger than me and he can totally physically control me. When he loses his temper there isn’t anything I can do but submit to him.”

She said she was still married to Setka but was “trying to leave” the relationship.

“He doesn’t want to accept the fact I want to leave the relationship,” she said.

In a statement Victoria Police said: “Police are investigating following a report a woman was assaulted at an address in Footscray West on August 25. As the investigation remains ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”

In 2019 the union boss said he should not be expelled from the Labor Party after being convicted of harassing Ms Walters with text messages.

“I am not proud of what’s happened,” Mr Setka said at the time.

“We have had a lot of dramas, me and my wife. We have resolved it.

“Me and my wife were having an argument and we sent some texts to each other using some bad language … and we are not that proud of it. We never physically harmed each other. We have moved on from it and are in a very good place.”