Trades Hall head defies union leadership, chants John Setka is 'here to stay'

Prominent union leader Luke Hilakari has put further pressure on Labor and the unions by offering full-throated support to controversial unionist John Setka as the Morrison government proposes new laws to crack down on unions.

Mr Hilakari, secretary of Victoria’s Trades Hall Council, was filmed last week leading a chant of hundreds of union activists with the words, “John Setka, here to stay”.

The chant, at a closed doors meeting at Melbourne's Trades Hall on July 30, comes a little over a month after Mr Setka was convicted of harassing his wife, Emma Walters, and breaching a court order.

Mr Hilakari is a member of the executive of the ACTU, whose leader, Sally McManus, has called for Mr Setka to stand down from the union movement.

The Age and Sydney Morning Herald have separately confirmed that since Mr Setka's conviction, three senior women, including the head of the union's legal team, have quit or given notice from his branch.

Victorian Trades Hall secretary Luke Halikari leads a chant of "John Setka here to stay".Credit: Facebook

He also lost his deputy, Shaun Reardon, who resigned in protest at Mr Setka remaining in his role.

Mr Hilakari, who is on leave, was unavailable for comment on the video, which was posted on the CFMMEU Victoria Facebook page. The ACTU said it had made its position clear on Mr Setka and would not be making further comment.

It comes as the Morrison government pushes through new laws that would allow unions such as the CFMMEU to be deregistered and officials banned if they break the law.

John Setka has remained defiant.Credit: Jason South

International union leader and former ACTU president Sharan Burrow has described it as the type of legislation "that we expect from authoritarian countries or dictatorships", but key Senate crossbencher Jacquie Lambie has threatened to support the legislation unless Mr Setka resigns.

Mr Setka was originally charged with more than 30 domestic violence offences, but all but two were withdrawn after he agreed to plead guilty to two charges.

The Age revealed in early June Mr Setka’s graphic harassment of a woman - at the time it could not legally report it was Ms Walters.

And in a closed-door meeting he made comments about how the work of anti-domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty had led to men having fewer rights.

That led to a political and media storm with moves from new Labor leader Anthony Albanese to expel Mr Setka from the Labor Party - moves which are yet to be resolved due to a court challenge.

Mr Hilakari had until now remained largely silent on Mr Setka, despite calls from Ms McManus and 13 national unions for the controversial union figure to resign.

Mr Setka has not bowed to the pressure and continues in his position as CFMMEU Victorian construction secretary. The union is democratically constituted and his removal would require moves to expel him from other leaders or members.

Ms McManus said in June that she was influenced in her decision by Mr Setka's guilty plea.

“Everyone has a right to a safe home, workplace and community and we have been campaigning for many years for this,” Ms McManus said.

"We also believe in equality for women and know that instances of violence against women are not just unacceptable, they stand in the way of achieving equality.’’

Despite the ACTU’s position - and that of much of the union movement - Victorian Trades Hall has not taken a firm position on Mr Setka.

Mr Hilakari has taken progressive positions on a number of social issues in the past.

A former adviser to Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews when he was health minister, Mr Hilakari has since 2014 revived Trades Hall as a political force.

Mr Setka’s support has come from allies in his Labor left sub-faction and several Victorian left-wing unions such as the Electrical Trades Union, the Plumbers' Union and the Rail Tram and Bus Union.

He also has support from parts of his own national union, the CFMMEU.

In late June Mr Setka was convicted and fined as Magistrate Belinda Wallington condemned Mr Setka for his “nasty behaviour” and lack of contrition.

Victorian Trades Hall Council secretary Luke Hilakari led the chant of "John Setka, here to stay".Credit: Simon Schluter

After the hearing Mr Setka admitted he had “screwed up” and said he wanted to change. Ms Walters also identified herself as the victim of his harassment.

She said prominent unionists had attempted to silence her.

“All of them have always known I am the woman at the centre of all of this, and not one of them has picked up the phone to hear my side of the story,” she said.

“In fact, they have all actively worked to silence me and my story in favour of the Labor Party’s line," Ms Walters said.

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John Setka and Emma Walters.Credit: AAP