Albanese ‘trumped by unions’ on Setka: Dutton

Anthony Albanese has warned John Setka he should listen to Sally McManus and step down.

Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton on the Today show this morning. Picture: Channel 9

Anthony Albanese has ramped-up pressure on John Setka to step-down as Victorian secretary of the CFMEU, issuing a warning to the embattled boss to listen to ACTU secretary Sally McManus.

The message comes a day after Mr Setka defied Ms McManus’ push for him to quit, declaring he has no intention of resigning as Victorian CFMEU secretary.

“He’s an elected secretary of the union. But what he needs to do is to listen to Sally McManus’ comments as the Secretary of the ACTU who has pointed out that the movement is bigger than any individual,” Mr Albanese told Today this morning.
“His ongoing presence as Victorian secretary of the CFMEU is not in the interests of the union movement as a whole.”

Ms McManus yesterday told Mr Setka to resign ‘in the best interests of the union movement’.

Mr Albanese’s comment was made during a fiery segment on the Today show this morning where the politician locked horns with Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton over the Setka saga and the Coalition’s $158 billion personal income tax cuts plan.

Mr Dutton took aim at Anthony Albanese, accusing the Labor leader of being “trumped” by the trade unions as Setka refused to step down as leader.

‘I have previously said if these allegations are correct, the ones that have been reported in the media, they are totally unacceptable,’’ she said

‘There is no place for perpetrators of domestic violence in leadership positions in our movement.’

MORE: ACTU leader McManus admits Setka didn’t bag Batty

Mr Dutton said former Opposition leader Bill Shorten, who stepped down after the Labor’s election defeat on May 18, would have “stood up” to the union movement because of his close affiliation with them.

“It seemed Mr Shorten had more power and I think Bill Shorten should come to Anthony Albanese’s rescue,” Mr Dutton quipped.

But Mr Albanese brushed off the comment, saying he was a “big boy” and prepared to “take on” people when they stepped out of line. He said he would move to expel Mr Setka from the party on July 5.

JUST IN: "He won’t be resigning from the Labor Party, he’ll be expelled and it will happen on July 5.” @AlboMP on @CFMEUJohnSetka. #9Today pic.twitter.com/9QniHCPXZc

— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) June 13, 2019

The furore over Mr Setka’s alleged comments regarding anti domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty, has caused ructions within the union movement, with some backing action against Mr Setka and others slamming Mr Albanese for moving to expel him from the ALP.

When asked whether the Labor Party, who Today host Deborah Knight said had received nearly $140 million in donations since 2000, would continue to accept donations from the group, Mr Albanese said:

“We are of course a Labor Party and we make no apologies for the fact that we are connected to the trade union movement. We also have an independent position and the fact that I have called out John Setka’s ongoing behaviour and take a resolution to expel him indicates that.”

When asked about the Coalition’s controversial tax cuts legislation, Mr Dutton said it was time for Labor to support his party in the Senate.

The Australian revealed this morning Finance Minister Mathias Cormann had ruled out doing deals with crossbench senators to win their support for the tax cuts, intensifying pressure on Labor to back the plan.

But Mr Albanese accused the Coalition of breaking their own commitment to the tax cuts, which were due to come in on July 1, for not bringing parliament back before that date. He also caused for greater transparency regarding the details of the legislation.

“They have abandoned it,” Mr Albanese said. “ … Then they are talking about tax cuts in terms of stage three when they haven’t given us the information about what the impact is in terms of budget for various income groups.

“We are still waiting for that information from the government.”