Setka the puppet master: Labor’s new hit on the Greens

Labor will turn on the Greens and paint them as puppets of disgraced former CFMEU boss John Setka through a social media offensive in marginal seats if the minor party keeps blocking new laws that would force the union into administration.

The federal government is threatening to taint Greens MPs with the allegations of criminal activity and corruption that surround the CFMEU and accuse the party of chasing donations from the union after the Greens last week teamed with the Coalition to vote against Labor’s bill.

A meme from the social media campaign Labor is plotting against the Greens, tying them to former CFMEU boss John Setka.

“Adam Bandt and the Greens have made the calculated choice to choose their own political benefit over weeding out this behaviour,” Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt said in comments to this masthead.

“The Greens may see this as a way of getting more donations from John Setka and the CFMEU, but no amount of money is worth supporting corruption, bullying, sexism and thuggery.”

Bandt called Watt’s comments “delusional”.

“The Greens will always oppose sexism and bullying, but the minister needs to look in the mirror. Labor took millions in donations from the CFMEU in the last decade, not the Greens,” he said.

“Watt’s bill allows the money tap to remain on for Labor even while the union is in administration, yet he has the gall to lecture others.”

Labor has historically accepted donations from the CFMEU but its federal executive has banned donations from the Victorian branch. Bandt has not said if his party would do the same but has noted the Greens have not received a donation from the union since 2013.

The move to push legislation through follows the Building Bad investigation by this masthead, The Australian Financial Review and 60 Minutes, which revealed the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union had been infiltrated by bikies and organised crime, triggering the resignation of Setka, a former Victoria division leader of the union.

Labor needs either opposition or crossbench support to pass its bill, but negotiations between the major parties crumbled last week, in part because it does not include a ban on political donations that the Coalition demanded.

Watt said the Greens were running interference for the CFMEU despite “bullying, corruption and thuggery” on construction worksites. It adds to his attack on the Coalition, which he has accused of knowing about criminality in the union when in government and doing nothing.

Murray Watt arguing for the CFMEU legislation in the Senate last week.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Watt said he had been engaging with the Greens but they were now stonewalling him. “In contrast, the crossbench, including Jacqui Lambie and David Pocock, understand the gravity of the situation and the need for urgent action,” he said.

Bandt rejected the allegations. “We have been ready to talk with the minister and have approached negotiations over this serious bill in good faith, but that faith was clearly misplaced,” he said.

“This incompetent minister is trying to rush through a bill he has already had to amend himself several times, and his hastily drafted legislation could hand control of a union over to Michaelia Cash if she wins the next election.”

The government will bring another vote on the bill on Monday.

If the Greens block it again, Labor plans to target the Greens-held seats of Brisbane, Griffith and Ryan with a social media blitz that depicts them as Setka’s puppets. It will also target Richmond and Macnamara, which are seats the party wants to win off Labor at the next federal election, based on its belief voters in those electorates would be shocked the Greens are siding with the union.

Under the new laws, Watt would be able to appoint an administrator to take charge of the union for three years and there would be obligations on officers, employees and professional advisors to co-operate. Members who don’t comply could be expelled for up to five years and face a maximum two years in jail.

The Greens have said their concern centres around overreach and the fact the whole union would be put into administration rather than just the branches subject to criminal or corruption claims.

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