CFMEU ‘political mastermind’ met Victorian Planning Minister

Victorian Planning Minister’s diary reveals she met union’s political adviser Elizabeth Doidge to discuss ‘planning matters’.

Elizabeth Doidge, CFMEU official and City of Melbourne councillor, who met with an adviser to Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Victorian Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny held high-level talks with a CFMEU official described as a “political mastermind” to discuss “planning portfolio related matters”.

The Australian can reveal Ms Kilkenny’s official diary confirms the minister and a senior adviser met CFMEU official Elizabeth Doidge, who is also a Melbourne City Councillor, on December 21, 2023.

Revelations about the pre-Christmas meeting — which the diary entry lists as “CFMEU” and “introductory” — raise fresh questions about the militant union’s access to ministers in the Andrews and Allan’s Labor governments.

Ms Kilkenny was dragged into the unfolding CFMEU crisis on Tuesday when she admitted at a press conference that she had been alerted to concerns over the CFMEU before the scandal erupted ten days ago.

Victorian Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny. Picture: Newswire / Nicki Connolly

But the emergence of the December 21 meeting with Ms Doidge has dragged the senior Allan government minister deeper into the crisis engulfing the construction union, which Mr Setka quit amid revelations about its links to bikies and serious allegations about its conduct on Victorian government Big Build projects.

Ms Doidge confirmed the meeting had taken place when contacted by The Australian on Tuesday, but declined to comment further. Senior sources confirmed Ms Kilkenny attended the meeting.

The Australian sent the Premier’s office a series of detailed questions about Ms Kilkenny’s talks with the CFMEU, including if Ms Allan was aware of the meeting and had been briefed on it. The Australian also asked if Ms Kilkenny’s office would release minutes from the meeting. No response was received by deadline.

Earlier on Tuesday, Ms Kilkenny confirmed she had been sent an email raising concerns “on a local project” last year and that she referred the matter on to the Fair Work Commission.

“I recall it was an email that had come to me, as I said that the matter was raised and is now being dealt with by the Fair Work Commission,” she said on Tuesday.

“It was to do with a local project and as a local member of parliament I raised it and its being dealt with by the Fair Work Commision. I can’t add anything else to that.” Ms Kilkenny described her actions as following “proper processes”, but said she did not discuss the issue with then Premier Daniel Andrews or his successor Jacinta Allan.

Former CFMEU leader John Setka. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

A website set up to celebrate Ms Doidge’s marriage to CFMEU official Joey Myles describes her as a “political mastermind”.

“Elizabeth’s acquired skills … have made her a powerful force in her role as a political mastermind at the CFMEU,” the website states.

“Her remarkable patience effortlessly complements her exceptional communication skills, allowing her to navigate even the most challenging circumstances with ease.”

Ms Doidge is a close associate of Mr Setka and after her election to the Melbourne City Council in 2020, she paid an emotional tribute to the union’s then controversial state secretary.

Ms Doidge was quoted in the media describing Mr Setka as a “fantastic industry leader” and that she was proud to be one of his supporters.

“I know that John Setka hasn’t received the greatest media in the last year, and I’ll be very proud to set that record straight,” she told the Herald Sun.

The CFMEU is locked in a crisis ignited by revelations in Nine newspapers about its links to bikies and criminal elements on taxpayer-funded constructions sites including tunnels and level crossing removals.

CFMEU national secretary Zach Smith intervened last week to sack eight Victorian union delegates who are members of outlaw motorcycle gangs, or closely affiliated with them.

Sources said the sackings ­occurred in recent days after Mr Smith took control of the Victorian branch following allegations it had been infiltrated by criminal elements connected to underworld figures and bikies.

Ms Allan has referred allegations of criminal behaviour inside the CFMEU to Victoria Police and the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission.

Ms Allan has also said she had asked Labor’s National Executive to immediately suspend the CFMEU construction division from the Victorian Labor Party.

The revelations relating to Ms Kilkenny’s office meeting with the CFMEU comes after it was revealed that senior minister Danny Pearson was warned about tensions on the Big Build projects over the conduct of the CFMEU when a staff member attended a meeting with other contractors in May.