CFMEU boss John Setka refuses to quit, denies making Rosie Batty comments

John Setka says he won’t quit despite planning to plead guilty in court, as Sally McManus prepares to meet the union boss.

CFMEU Secretary John Setka and his wife Emma Walters speak to the media during a press conference at the Electrical Trades Union building in Melbourne.

John Setka has declared he will not quit despite confirming he intends to plead guilty in court to using a carriage service to harass a woman.

Asked today if he intended to plead guilty to the charge, the CFMEU Victorian secretary said: “Yes, yes, I do.”

His admission intensifies pressure on Mr Setka, with several union leaders saying today he should resign. They said they were stunned he intended to stay on given his admission.

ACTU secretary Sally McManus said she would meet Mr Setka in Melbourne tomorrow.

“I have arrived back in the country today and have consulted with union leaders who are concerned by Mr Setka’s words and actions, which are not compatible with our values, and have impacted on our movement,’’ she said.

“The ACTU condemns all acts of family and domestic violence. Australian unions have made ending family and domestic violence a priority.

ACTU secretary Sally Mcmanus will meet John Setka tomorrow. Picture: David Geraghty

“I have heard what Mr Setka had to say today. I have sought a meeting with him tomorrow to discuss these matters. I will have more to say following this meeting.”

Speaking to 3AW’s Neil Mitchell, Mr Setka said he intended to plead guilty to the charge but when “it’s put in its context, things aren’t as bad as they seem”.

He said he was “ashamed of some of the things I have said”.

MORE: Inquirer: The thorn in Labor’s side | Under siege: Union boss digs in | Cut & Paste: Setka and leading leftist ladies enjoy an ideological love-in

“Yes, I have said some terrible things and probably sent some not too pleasant messages, and received some not too pleasant messages, it doesn’t make it right,’’ he said.

Asked at his earlier press conference by The Australian whether his position would be in question if he pleaded guilty, Mr Setka said: “No, look, I am elected by CFMEU construction division members, right? Every four years. They’re the people that I am beholden to. They’re the ones who pay my wages and I answer to them.

“I don’t answer to anyone else but them so when an election comes if they, for whatever reason, see fit to not have me as their secretary then they won’t vote for me, it’s as simple as that.”

Asked if he would re-consider his future if he pleads guilty to a criminal charge Mr Setka replied: “No.”

Albanese under fire

Maritime Union of Australia official Chris Cain says Anthony Albanese should consider resigning for accepting “false” allegations about John Setka, claiming the CFMEU Victorian leader had been “stitched up” by his enemies.

Mr Cain, the MUA’s Western Australian secretary, attended the CFMEU national executive meeting where Mr Setka is alleged to have made disparaging comments about domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty.

But Mr Cain said he was “sitting five feet away” from Mr Setka and he denied hearing comments critical of Ms Batty. Mr Setka has also denied the claims and refused to resign.

“I was in the room,’’ Mr Cain told The Australian. “I know what happened. It’s just a beat up. It’s a big stitch up, a total miscarriage of justice and Albanese should be ashamed of himself. Maybe he should resign.”

He said Mr Albanese should have contacted Mr Setka to get his version of events before seeking his expulsion.

Mr Cain’s comments came after Electrical Trades Union Victorian secretary, Troy Gray, called on Mr Albanese to withdraw his criticism of Mr Setka and abandon his attempt to expel him from the ALP.

“Yesterday Anthony Albanese made disparaging remarks about Mr. Setka and his alleged ‘views’,” Mr Gray said. “Well today we’ve learned they were based off of a complete fabrication and Albanese needs to withdraw.”

“John Setka made it clear that the reporting around his alleged comments regarding Ms. Batty was false and he never made any disparaging remarks about the anti-violence campaigner.

“Mr. Albanese should know better than to be led down the garden path by the enemies of John Setka seeking to spread rumours and lies about him for their own political gain.”

Flanked by his wife Emma Walters at the press conference in Melbourne, Mr Setka refused to quit as the Victorian leader of the construction union, claiming “there is no reason’’ for him to resign.

Mr Setka denied he had denigrated Rosie Batty at a recent meeting of the union’s national executive and claimed he was the victim of “false allegations” being made for political gain.

“I’ve been a member of the CFMMEU for over 35 years and have proudly led the union for the past six years,’’ Mr Setka said. “And as long as I am elected leader, one thing won’t change — I’ll always put our members first.

Mr Albanese yesterday declared he would push for Mr Setka to be expelled from the Labor Party after condemning reported comments made by the CFMEU leader about anti-domestic violence campaigner Ms Batty.

Mr Setka reportedly told a meeting of the construction union’s executive that Ms Batty’s advocacy had skewed the law against men.

John Setka and his wife addressing the media on why he will not step down as CFMMEU secretary: Why should I resign? Why should I leave the Union based on lies and little political agendas.

MORE: https://t.co/5hEis06zri #NewsDay pic.twitter.com/6agmOVzVBc

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) June 12, 2019

Ms Walters said she and Mr Setka had been to “hell and back’’ in recent years and he had the “utmost respect for women’’.

“It’s hard to watch the get John Setka campaign,’’ she said. “I see John Setka get up every morning and go to work at 6.30 to represent his members. I see him come home at 7.00 at night, having spent all day representing his members. I can’t describe how hard it is to watch.”

Mr Setka denied he was damaging the CFMEU by staying on and didn’t believe he should resign over “lies’’.

Labor’s national executive committee yesterday agreed to suspend Mr Setka’s party membership ahead of a meeting on July 5 to vote on Mr Albanese’s motion to expel him.

Mr Setka strongly denied making the reported comments about Ms Batty and claimed that he was “a huge supporter” of the former Australian of the Year. “I have always been a huge supporter of Rosie Batty and admired her tireless work she has done and what she has achieved,’’ Mr Setka said.

CFMEU Secretary John Setka holds a press conference with his wife Emma Walters, in North Melbourne. Picture: David Crosling

“Everyone at that meeting knows that what has been reported is not what I said and the member who leaked these false allegations, for nothing more than political gain, should be the one who hangs their head in shame.

“I completely agree with Mr Albanese — any comments denigrating Rosie Batty are completely unacceptable.”

Mr Setka said he had raised the issue of domestic law changes with executive members, but denied that involved any denigration of the campaigner.

Ms Waters defended her husband’s track record on supporting women throughout his union career.

“He’s done nothing but increase the involvement of women in the construction industry, improve women’s pathway to be involved in the construction industry. He has the utmost of respect for women,” she said.

CFMMEU Secretary John Setka speaks to the media.

“And I think it’s wrong. I think it’s wrong that people are taking things in the way they are. It’s wrong.”

Labor’s deputy Senate leader Kristina Keneally, said today that Mr Setka should consider his position. “Mr Setka should have a long, hard look at himself in the mirror, and consider his position within the union movement, within the union he currently leads,’’ she told ABC television. “I acknowledge that he has been elected by his members. However, the views that he has expressed about domestic violence and about Rosie Batty undercut and undermine not just Labor Party policy, but national efforts to reduce violence against women. They’re out of keeping with the Australian Labor Party; they are out of keeping with mainstream Australia.”