‘Enough is enough’: John Setka to step down from CFMEU

Victorian CFMEU leader John Setka has abruptly quit in the wake of allegations made against him and the union.

CFMEU leader John Setka has quit. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Victorian CFMEU leader John Setka has abruptly quit in the wake of allegations made against him and the union.

Mr Setka, who was due to depart from the union in January, announced on Friday night he would step down immediately as the union’s state construction division secretary.

He said the decision was in response to the “ongoing and relentless stories written with multiple allegations, whether true or not, about this great union”.

“These stories have been constant, and while I’ve been the target of many of them, enough is enough, the ongoing false allegations continually do nothing but harm the work this great union does for its members,” he said.

In a statement, Mr Setka said: “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.

“No individual is greater than the union, this union is and always should be about the members. I depart knowing I leave this union in the very capable hands of the national office and Victorian executive to continue the work for our members. To the members of the CFMEU, you have made me incredibly proud, and it has been an honour and privilege to be your secretary … I say thank you.”

He was expected to be replaced by branch assistant secretary Derek Christopher.

Anthony Albanese said it was clear Setka had played a role in misconduct allegations.

“I expelled him from the Labor Party in my first few weeks as Labor leader, that was appropriate,” the Prime Minister said during a press conference on Saturday.

“John Sekta has no legitimate place in the Labor Party. (Unions) don’t exist to engage in this sort of conduct that John Setka has clearly been engaged with.”

Asked how he felt about the resignation, Mr Albanese replied “good”.

Mr Setka recently attracted controversy by threatening to wage a work-to-rule campaign against the Australian Football League.

Nine investigative reporter Nick McKenzie reported on Friday night that Mr Setka quit after he had questioned him and the union over a “raft of explosive allegations about misconduct” involving Mr Setka and the CFMEU.

Mr Setka’s threat against the AFL was triggered by its hiring of former union watchdog Stephen McBurney.

His resignation comes just two weeks after a new law, allowing members of the CFMEU’s manufacturing division to vote to break away from the union, passed the Senate, clearing the way for a ­secret ballot in coming months.

The ACTU had supported the bill, after accusing Mr Setka of waging a personal vendetta against Mr McBurney, and maintained that the “unique circumstances” could not be resolved any other way.

Veteran CFMEU official Michael O’Connor accused Mr Setka of undermining the reputation of the entire union movement by trying to hold AFL projects “to ransom”.

With Mohammad Alfares