John Setka’s wife blasts SA Premier over domestic violence

The estranged wife of union boss John Setka has criticised the Premier over comments about domestic violence – and demanded he give a $125k union donation to DV charity.

Emma Walters, the estranged wife of polarising construction union boss John Setka, has blasted Premier Peter Malinauskas for saying domestic violence “should be a politics-free zone.”

Mr Setka was convicted in 2019 for harassing Ms Walters and she demanded the SA Labor Party give a $125,000 donation from the Victorian branch of the CFMEU prior to the election to domestic violence charities.

She also warned of what she perceives is a workplace culture being imported from Victoria following the Victorian branch’s takeover of the SA branch that could affect women workers on South Australian worksites – a claim bluntly rejected by Mr Setka.

Ms Walters called on SA Labor to donate the CFMEU money to domestic violence charities while the Setka-dominated union culture flourishes.

“Like the song says, it’s money for nothing and chicks for free,” she said.

Adelaide-raised Ms Walters, a lawyer, met Mr Setka while working as a legal officer for the union and the couple have children aged eight and 10.

In 2019 Mr Setka was convicted of harassing his wife by text and now-Prime Minister Anthony Albanese moved to have him expelled from the party. Mr Setka subsequently quit the party.

Ms Walters says multiple intervention orders against Mr Setka have not given her any comfort from “coercive, manipulative behaviour” and was furious to see Mr Malinauskas’ response on TV dismissing opposition MLC Michelle Lensink’s call for the $125,000 to be given to domestic violence charities.

Mr Malinauskas at the time said: “I think that’s a little cute. Michelle Lensink is playing the outrage card on domestic violence in an area that really should be a politics-free zone.”

Ms Walters said domestic violence is a community, social and political issue.

“The problem here is the Premier of South Australia doesn’t think domestic violence is a political issue,” she said. “He is happy to take money with domestic violence fingerprints.

“What you are seeing is a normalisation of domestic violence, bully tactics and coercive control, where it becomes quietly acceptable”.

Emma Watkins, the estranged wife of CFMEU leader John Setka, wants the CFMEU’s donation given to a domestic violence charity. Picture: Arsineh Houspian

A spokesman for Mr Malinauskas rejected Ms Walters’ interpretation of his comments.

“As the Premier said last week, domestic violence should not be subject to political point scoring and should be a bipartisan effort to tackle a significant scourge in our society,” the spokesman said.

“This is why the Labor government has invested significant funds in tackling domestic violence, including to Catherine House.”

Mr Setka also rejected the allegations of condoning any form of bullying and stressed the CFMEU does not tolerate domestic violence or on-site bullying.

A spokeswoman said: “Driven by Mr Setka, the Victorian Branch strongly advocated and negotiated for this to be recognised in members EBAs. As well as being recognised in the EBA, all on-site induction programs have a segment on respecting women on site.

“As in Victoria, all members on South Australian sites can look forward to better pay, conditions, and increased safety while at work thanks to CFMEU initiatives.”

Mr Setka’s installation as SA as well as Victorian branch secretary has sparked fears in the construction industry of militant pay rise demands.

Originally published as John Setka’s wife blasts SA Premier over domestic violence