John Setka in ALP faction plan

John Setka is set to flex his muscles in the Victorian ALP and demand extra representation for the militant construction union.

John Setka attends at the Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre in Melbourne. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

John Setka is set to flex his muscles in the Victorian ALP and demand extra representation for the militant construction union under a new power sharing arrangement between the party’s factions.

The controversial head of the construction division of Victoria’s CFMEU — who was forced out of the party by Anthony Albanese following allegations of domestic violence — raised eyebrows by attending a meeting between union leaders who were part of Adem Somyurek’s former powerbase.

Mr Setka shot down rumours the CFMEU wanted to cut its affiliation with Labor in a meeting where Industrial Left and Right unions agreed to continue their alliance.

“He got up and said it is not happening,” according to someone in the meeting.

“He said he didn’t know who started the rumour but it was stupid.”

The alliance between Industrial Left and most of the Right — including the Australian Workers Union, the Health Workers Union and the Transport Workers Union — covers more than 60 per cent of party and union members in Victoria.

The alliance was strongly opposed by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews’s Socialist Left faction and a right-wing grouping known as the “Cons”, which is led by deputy Labor leader Richard Marles.

The alliance is hoping to also secure the formal support of the Cons and the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association — a move that would unite the Right with the Industrial Left and lessen the negotiating power of the Socialist Left.

A new power sharing deal between factions and unions is being sought after the branch stacking scandal ended the career of Mr Somyurek and forced the party into administration.

All parties are pushing for “proportional representation” so the size of unions and factions is reflected in party positions and in the parliament.

The Australian has been told the Industrial Left, which includes the CFMEU, will be arguing that it should be able to choose the candidate for the new Victorian seat that will be created from a federal redistribution.

In a separate meeting on Tuesday, the Socialist Left faction proposed a deal with the entire Right, known as Centre Unity, in a move that would sideline the CFMEU.

This proposal obtained by The Australian would protect sitting MPs and demand reform of the division to cater for “progressive political activists”.

It would also pressure the Victorian Right to put more women into parliament under affirmative action proposals that would require “mutual responsibility” for 50 per cent gender targets.

Women make up fewer than 20 per cent of the Victorian Right’s federal MPs, compared to about 65 per cent from the Left.

“Given the likelihood of significant boundary changes across Victoria, Centre Unity and the Socialist Left commit to the principle of proportional representation for any additional seats that may need to be allocated as a result of the redistribution,” the document said.

“We must ensure the ALP is a welcome home for progressive political activists within the community and a democratic organisation that we are all proud to be part of. This requires genuine reform of our internal procedures and operations.”

Unions are meeting Mr Andrews on Thursday to demand they have a say while the division is under the administration of party luminaries Steve Bracks and Jenny Macklin.