‘Good’: Albanese welcomes Setka resignation amid calls for CFMEU probe

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has welcomed the resignation of long-serving union boss John Setka amid allegations of senior bikie figures and criminals being parachuted into lucrative union roles on government-funded projects.

Setka quit on Friday ahead of the publication of explosive allegations about misconduct involving him and the CFMEU in The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, AFR and 60 Minutes.

Victoria’s opposition on Saturday called on the state government to launch an independent probe into the revelations, including allegations underworld figures and bikies have infiltrated the building industry and secured jobs as delegates on state government-funded projects.

The Victorian and NSW governments welcomed Setka’s resignation, but stopped short of launching investigations into the allegations, even as the South Australian premier asked police to investigate the claims and declared bikies had no place representing workers in the union movement.

When asked on Saturday morning for his reaction to Setka’s resignation, Albanese said: “Good.”

The prime minister said the former union boss’s alleged behaviour should be “condemned”, “isolated” and “stamped out”.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Brisbane on Saturday.Credit: AAP

Setka was forced out of the ALP in 2019 by Albanese over the union leader’s leaked comments about anti-domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty. Setka was later convicted of domestic violence offences.

“I expelled him from the Labor Party in my first few weeks as Labor leader. That was appropriate. John Setka has no legitimate place in the Labor movement,” the prime minister said.

“Trade unions exist to look after workers, to look after their wages and conditions and health and safety. They don’t exist to engage in the sort of conduct that John Setka has clearly been engaged with.”

The first part of the months-long investigation was published by this masthead on Saturday morning. The second instalment will be published on Sunday morning, with more coverage through the weekend, including on 60 Minutes on Sunday night.

John Setka arriving at the ACTU office in 2019.Credit: Eddie Jim

The investigation features secret surveillance and new audio revealing how bikies, criminals and underworld figures have infiltrated the building industry in Victoria and NSW, including on large publicly funded projects.

It also uncovered unprecedented details of senior bikie figures and criminals being parachuted into lucrative union roles, with the problems extending to the Indigenous employment sector.

In the face of repeated questioning about the explosive allegations, Setka resigned late on Friday.

“These stories have been constant, and while I’ve been the target of many of them, enough is enough,” he said on Friday night following his resignation from the CFMEU.

“If my stepping down can stop these malicious attacks on our members and officials and allow this great union to continue to fight for our members, for their wages and conditions, so that they go home safely to their families each day, then I’m happy.”

The Victorian opposition on Saturday called on Premier Jacinta Allan to hold an urgent investigation into the CFMEU.

Victorian deputy Liberal leader David Southwick and industrial relations spokesman David Hodgett accused Allan and Labor of failing to act on the militant union and again committed to set up a new workplace umpire for the construction industry if elected.

“Reports today of widespread organised crime infiltration of Victorian taxpayer-funded major projects through the Labor-backed CFMEU are deeply concerning, but not surprising,” they said in a statement.

“Under Labor, reports of misconduct, intimidation, rorts, standover tactics and thuggish behaviour on Big Build sites has become commonplace, yet time and again, Premier Jacinta Allan and the Labor government have failed to take appropriate action.”

The investigation revealed that many of the bikies and criminals acting as CFMEU delegates are employed on projects under Victoria’s $100-billion Big Build road and rail infrastructure program.

This masthead put detailed questions to the Victorian government about whether the state’s Labor Party would cut ties with the CFMEU and how it planned to respond to the allegations regarding the hiring of underworld figures and bikies on taxpayer-funded projects.

Late on Saturday afternoon – almost 24 hours after Setka’s resignation – the Allan government replied saying it, too, welcomed the development.

But it stopped short of launching its own probe into the scandal.

“These are extremely serious allegations that will need to be investigated by the appropriate authorities,” a government spokesperson said.

“Our expectations are clear. There is zero tolerance for illegal behaviour. John Setka has resigned – as he should.”

This masthead also put a list of questions to the NSW Labor government, including about what due diligence it had conducted on labour-hire firms engaged for its state projects.

A spokesperson for Premier Chris Minns said there was “absolutely no tolerance for criminal or corrupt behaviour in the building industry, in unions, or anywhere”.

“We are watching closely and, as we have previously shown, are prepared to take action to protect the integrity of the construction sector in NSW and the Labor Party in NSW,” said the spokesperson.

In 2021, then-opposition leader Minns forced his party’s NSW branch to suspend the party membership of NSW CFMEU state secretary Darren Greenfield after he was arrested over bribery allegations.

South Australian Labor Premier Peter Malinauskas on Saturday said bikies did not belong in the labour movement.

“It is my firm view that construction workers deserve to be represented by committed professionals, not people hanging out with bikie gangs,” he wrote in a post on X.

“If there is any established connection, then get them out!”

Malinauskas also asked police to investigate whether there are any links between the construction union and bikie gangs in South Australia, the Adelaide Advertiser reported on Saturday.

NSW opposition industrial relations spokesman Damien Tudehope on Saturday said Labor should go further by not accepting donations from the CFMEU and preventing its members from joining the party.

“For too long, Labor has been in bed with union leaders like Setka, turning a blind eye to their corruption and bullying tactics,” Tudehope said.

“NSW will pay the price as projects are delayed and costs blow out to satisfy their union mates.”

Federal opposition employment and workplace relations spokeswoman Michaelia Cash called on the Labor Party to return any money donated by the CFMEU.

She said the federal government must act immediately to clean up the industry.

“The depth of criminal infiltration, revealed by the Nine newspapers, is extremely disturbing and should be of concern to every Australian,” she said.

“But past conduct by Mr Albanese and [Employment and Workplace Relations] Minister Tony Burke would indicate it is unlikely they will act against the union that donated $4.3 million to the Labor Party to help them win the election.”

The Victorian opposition has promised, if elected, to introduce a new code of practice for the building and construction industry and will establish a body, known as Construction Enforcement Victoria, to oversee and monitor compliance.

The code, which will cover major government projects, will dictate standards of conduct on-site, the settlement of disputes and the content of enterprise agreements. It will also ensure the rights to entry and freedom of association.

With Rachel Clun

Our Breaking News Alert will notify you of significant breaking news when it happens. Get it here.