Union bad boy John Setka and leading leftist ladies have enjoyed an ideological love-in

Van Badham has been an unabashed admirer of union bad boy John Setka.

Took a while. The Guardian Australia, June 10:

ACTU secretary, Sally McManus, has demanded (CFMEU boss) John Setka apologise for comments he is reported to have made criticising anti-domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty … The leader of the union movement directly addressed the controversy surrounding Setka for the first time on Monday afternoon, as the ACTU and Labor faced pressure over a response one anti-domestic violence campaigner labelled “pathetic”. Setka, the Victorian secretary of the CFMMEU, has claimed he was “taken out of context” following an Age story that reported he told a union meeting Batty’s advocacy had led to men having fewer rights. He told the paper he had not criticised Batty and had great respect for her. Setka could not be reached for comment. Last month, Setka also told a Victorian court he would plead guilty to charges of harassing a woman.

ACTU statement, June 9:

The ACTU condemns all acts of family and domestic violence … We note the matter involving Mr Setka is ­currently before the courts and as such will not be commenting further.

Unrelated fan mail from ABC favourite Van “The Red Queen” Badham, Twitter, March 15, 2016:

@CFMEUJohnSetka You’re the best, Setka. Thank god for you.

No doubt sincere. Sally McManus, Twitter, May 27, 2015:

CFMEU leaders have been standing up against violence against women, zero tolerance. Taking the lead with their members.

Setka, CFMEU website, March 2017:

(McManus is) the new Secretary of the ACTU … On day one in the job, she demonstrated what a real trade union leader looks like: “I believe in the rule of law where the law is fair and right but when it’s unjust, I don’t think there’s a problem with breaking it”. That was her first interview. Will Sally be distancing herself from the CFMEU? “There’s no way” (she said).

Setka, Twitter, September 10, 2015:

Great to finally meet the legendary Van Badham!

Badham, Twitter, June 7, 2015:

SETKA IS AWESOME. Thank you!

Badham, Facebook, August 24, 2017:

I only really know about two things — Marxism and doughnuts.

Badham, Twitter, March 15, 2016:

With you all the way, Setka.

Badham, Twitter, September 30, 2018:

Here’s me proudly having my photo taken with @CFMEUJohn Setka Of course I would. Dude’s legendary.

The Guardian, July 22, 2017:

(McManus) bristles at criticism of the CFMEU. She points out that many of their actions are around safety on building sides — which is true, although far from all of them — and that what are now illegal actions once were legal. She insists the CFMEU is misunderstood … “Yes, a lot of them have rough edges. They’re building workers, they are tradies … Their language isn’t right, or the way that they said things. I think it’s classism.

The Australian, March 8, 2018:

(McManus) does not accept that the (CFMEU) has a bad record on equal rights for women, saying the union has “led arguments” on paid domestic violence leave … CFMEU officials and members have a long history of involvement in sexist incidents, including a female Fair Work Australian official being called a “f..king slut” by union officials while doing her job …