Ex-CFMEU boss John Setka hit with more charges
The former union leader now faces nine charges for allegedly sending threatening emails.
Former Victorian CFMEU leader John Setka has been hit with two more charges over allegations he sent threatening emails to the government-appointed union administrator.
After charging Mr Setka last month with seven counts of using a telecom communications device to menace, harass and offend, detectives from Taskforce Hawk on Friday charged him with two more counts of using a telecom communications device to offend.
The charges followed an investigation into threatening and harassing emails Mr Setka allegedly sent to CFMEU administrator Mark Irving KC.
Investigators will allege Mr Setka sent the emails in response to the administrator’s notice to produce material, and a follow-up letter a day later.
Sources said the demands to Mr Setka related to Mr Irving’s probe into a so-called union “slush” fund known as the Building Industry 2000 fund.
In a statement on Friday, Victoria Police said the two new charges related to “offensive messages” Mr Setka allegedly sent on October 30 to an investigator appointed by Mr Irving.
Mr Setka was bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on January 30.
The additional charges came after a Senate estimates hearing was told this week that 60 CFMEU personnel had left the union’s Victorian branch since Mr Irving was appointed last year, including 26 in recent weeks. The committee heard CFMEU boss Zach Smith had resigned from the Albanese government’s National Construction Industry Forum, citing a need to focus on the rebuilding of Australia’s most controversial union.
Fair Work general manager Murray Furlong revealed he had received information that workers known to be affiliated with outlaw motorcycle gangs and other organised crime groups were moving from their positions on Victoria’s Metro Tunnel and North-East Link sites to Suburban Rail Loop sites, including health and safety representatives and delegates.
“It is important to acknowledge that these people are employees engaged to work on sites controlled by Tier 1 builders and major contractors,” he wrote. “One of the reasons they remain in the industry is due to the actions (and inaction) of their employers and those that control the supply chains on major projects, such as Tier 1 builders.”
