Politics latest: 'Private school boy's club': John Setka lashes AFL

Unmoved by comments made by AFL chief Andrew Dillon, John Setka has continued his attack on the AFL, saying the union would not back away from waging a work to rule campaign.

CFMEU leader John Setka in Adelaide. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

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6:59 pm June 14, 2024

Premier called out over Setka, AFL stoush

Staff writers

Victorian treasury spokesperson Brad Rowswell has weighed into the battle between Victorian CFMEU leader John Setka and the AFL.

Speaking to Sky News on Friday, Mr Rowswell criticised Victorian Labor and Premier Jacinta Allan for failing to stand up to Mr Setka over the stoush.

“Well this guy is clearly a thug, he’s quite clearly a bully, and the thing that I’m irritated and actually angered the most about is the fact that when state Labor ministers in this state (Victoria) have had the opportunity to call this out for what it is they have squibbed it,” Mr Rowswell told Sky News.

“And Jacinta Allan, this state’s Premier, has been absolutely silent on this. Victorians expect better from their Premier."

Mr Rowswell suggested a culture of "back scratching" to the unions had led to Mr Setka's public attack on the AFL, citing a $4.3m donation from the CFMEU to Labor Party at the last election.

“We’ve got pretty stringent donation laws here in Victoria but that does not exclude the contributions of unions to impact on elections," he said.

"Labor did that deal, they made sure their union mates were looked after. The union is scratching the back of Labor, Labor is scratching the back of the union. It's the same old story. And the only way to fix this is to have a government that is prepared to actually stand up to the bullying tactics of people, blokes like John Setka, and say enough is enough this is wrong.”

By Elizabeth Pike

6:02 pm June 14, 2024

Albanese urged to 'stand up to China'

Staff writers

Opposition home affairs spokesperson James Paterson claims the Albanese government must "stand up" to China on security issues when Anthony Albanese meets with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Monday.

“The issues go a little bit deeper than panda diplomacy as well, and dialogue is important not just when we agree but actually particularly when we disagree," he told Sky News on Friday.

“There’s a very long list of issues we hope Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is able to raise on Australia’s behalf when he meets the Premier, including the detained Australian Yang Hengjun, including the unsafe activities of the People’s Liberation Army in our region towards Australian defence force personnel, including the record levels of foreign interference and espionage in Australia’s democracy.

“This is an opportunity for us to stand up for ourselves, to articulate our national interest, and to have that heard at the highest levels of the Chinese government."

Mr Paterson also urged the Prime Minister to have tough conversations with Premier Qiang despite a general trend of "dialling back any public criticism of the Chinese Government".

“Unfortunately, I do think the Albanese government has deliberately dialled back any public criticism of the Chinese government whether it’s on domestic issues including human rights in China, the South China Sea, or foreign interference in our own democracy because they are obsessed with bilateral relationships," he said.

By Elizabeth Pike

4:59 pm June 14, 2024 Highlight

PM airs bad blood with 'attention-seeker' Setka

Staff writers

Anthony Albanese says one of the first things he did as leader of the Labor Party 'was to expel John Setka'. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

Anthony Albanese says Victorian CFMEU leader John Setka “rather likes attention” amid his stoush with the AFL.

The comments come after Mr Setka defied calls from the Prime Minister and Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke to abandon his bitter dispute with the AFL and its head of umpiring, Stephen McBurney.

When asked on 2GB if Mr Albanese was a great friend of Mr Setka's, he replied “certainly not”.

“Well, what we don't need is John Setka playing any role," he said.

"The job of union officials is to look after their members, it's not to engage in this sort of nonsense of targeting a bloke who's the head of umpires for the AFL, that's a matter for the AFL.

“It has nothing to do with John Setka. And this guy, I think, rather likes attention. I try not to give him any. One of the first things that I did as leader of the Labor Party was to expel John Setka from the party. He took me to court and the entire National Executive over that.

“But I stand by the fact that that was the right decision,” he said.

Mr Albanese was referring to the four-month campaign he waged against Mr Setka in 2019 to have him expelled from the Labor Party, which resulted in Mr Setka's resignation in October that year.

At the time, Mr Albanese said it was a "good outcome for the Australian Labor Party".

"It's been important that we demonstrate that Labor's values as a party are greater than any individual and that we're prepared to stand up for those values.

"There has also been a range of activity in breach of both the Victorian rules of the ALP and the values of the Australian Labor Party."

In turn, Mr Setka claimed his resignation was motivated by disdain for Mr Albanese's leadership.

“I can no longer stand by and watch Anthony Albanese trash the traditional values of the Labor Party and the union movement," he said.

“The core values on which the Labor Party was built have been totally eroded under Mr Albanese’s leadership and I cannot support him as a member of the ALP any longer.”

– Elizabeth Pike

4:19 pm June 14, 2024 Highlight

Dangerous non-citizens monitored balloons to 160

Rhiannon Down

The cohort of dangerous non-citizens living in the community under monitoring conditions following the landmark NZYQ case has ballooned to 160, with 85 of the group wearing ankle monitors.

The latest figures released in last month's Community Protection Board summary also shows 77 of the group are subject to curfew conditions, 24 must report if they make a financial transaction of more than $10,000 and 16 must notify authorities if they accumulate more than the same figure in debt.

The Community Protection Board, made up of law enforcement officials and experts, was established after a High Court case in November found that indefinite detention was unlawful, triggering the release of about 150 non-citizens from immigration detention.

The April snapshot showed there were just 153 individuals in the community on bridging visas, with 76 being ankle-monitored and 68 subject to a curfew.

4:03 pm June 14, 2024

Coalition won't set climate 'target for target's sake'

Staff writers

Opposition environment spokesperson Jonathon Duniam says the Coalition will not set a “target for target's sake” when it comes to their energy policy.

It comes after Peter Dutton announced he would abandon the 2030 emissions target if elected.

“The important thing about all of this that gets lost in this debate is that it’s great to set emissions reductions targets and have a plan to achieve them, noting though that the government isn’t going to achieve theirs, but where is the talk about bringing down power prices and achieving that target – the $275m power price reduction?” Mr Duniam asked.

“We do have time before the next election and we will work through our policy process and take the community on the journey with us.

“But we are not just going to set a target for target's sake, we are going to do what is sustainable and achievable and factor in cost-of-living as well.”

– Elizabeth Pike

3:40 pm June 14, 2024

USYD pro-Palestine encampment ordered off

Noah Yim

The University of Sydney has ordered the pro-Palestine encampment protesters on its campus to vacate, looking to wrap up the protest after almost two months. The university says the encampment was now impeding the university's preparations for next semester.

“Since the encampment began, we have worked with the encampment representatives to keep the area clean and hygienic," a university spokesperson said. "We have continually removed rubbish and broken items from the encampment site as needed and today we have again begun removing broken items and unattended items.

"As there are also a number of tents which have been damaged and are not being used overnight, we have asked the owners of those tents to retrieve their property.

"Following the last rejection of our proposal we have also now instructed the encampment representatives that we require them to vacate the encampment to allow other students to use the space.

"For some weeks we have tried to negotiate with encampment representatives to come to a peaceful resolution.

"The front lawns are a shared space, and as we have said previously, our shared spaces should be welcoming and inclusive to all members of our community. Since 24 April, the encampment has taken over this shared space to the exclusion of others.

"We have repeatedly stated since the encampment began that we support the right to peaceful protest, provided it does not cause significant disruption to core university operations. We consider preparations for semester two to be core university operations, and any activity that impedes our ability to prepare for them in the usual fashion constitutes a significant and unacceptable disruption.”

3:15 pm June 14, 2024 Highlight

'Private school boy's club': Setka lashes AFL

Ewin Hannan

Victorian CFMEU leader John Setka has attacked the AFL as a “little private school boy’s club” after league chief Andrew Dillon backed its head of umpiring, Stephen McBurney.

Mt Setka said on Friday the union would not back away from its threats to wage a work to rule campaign on AFL projects to try to oust Mr McBurney, the former building industry watchdog who instigated legal action that cost the union millions of dollars.

Mr Dillon said on Friday that Mr McBurney was doing an “incredible” job and had made a “massive impact” since taking up his role at the AFL, suggesting he could be in line for a promotion.

Mr Setka said he was unmoved by the AFL’ chief’s comments.

“We haven’t changed our position one bit, we’re still doing the same thing,” he told The Australian.

“It’s just a waiting game for us. We’re patient people. We didn’t get to where we were doing stupid moves.

“Don’t worry, the AFL are going to reap the rewards of their actions, that I can guarantee you. That little private school boy’s club. I just hope they’ve got deep pockets”.

Reiterating that he was responsible for expelling Mr Setka from the ALP, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday that what occurred at the AFL was none of Mr Setka’s business.

Mr Setka, in response, said: “It’s more my business than it is his. For all these politicians who are opposed to us, doing what we’re doing, considering a lot of them are put there by unions, they ought to be ashamed of themselves. They ought to remember where they came from.”

3:00 pm June 14, 2024

Tink remains steadfast to climate change action

Staff writers

Teal Independent Kylea Tink says her commitment to climate change action will be stronger than ever despite the potential loss of her seat, given the possibility of a Coalition government winning the next election.

Speaking to reporters on Friday afternoon, Ms Tink emphasised her priorities would not change following the Australian Electoral Commission's proposal to abolish the federal seat of North Sydney.

"My priority right now as the federal member of North Sydney is my community… I need to stay focused on the rest of the term that I have in this seat," Ms Tink said.

"To be clear, our nation has no hope of hitting net zero by 2050 if we do not have interim targets, the people of North Sydney are incredibly pragmatic and understand that.

"Also typically, I agree with Peter Dutton that the next election will be on cost of living but the single biggest factor that impacts cost of living in this nation is climate change.

"The reason our insurance premiums are so expensive is because of climate change. The reason our energy is so expensive is because for over a decade we have done nothing to address the overreliance on fossil fuel. The reason we have a problem with housing and availability in this nation is because for a decade we did nothing to ensure we built the right houses in the right locations for the people who need them most."

By Elizabeth Pike

2:13 pm June 14, 2024

Steggall disappointed by North Sydney proposal

Staff writers

Independent MP Zali Steggall said she was "very disappointed" with the Australian Electoral Commission's proposal to abolish the neighbouring federal seat of North Sydney, held by fellow Teal independent Kylea Tink.

"I think the people there will be very disappointed and I think my fellow independent Kylea Tink has done an amazing job supporting that and representing that community," Ms Steggall, who holds the seat of Warringah, told Sky News.

"I don't know if I'd say it was tinkering around the edges. Warringah is essentially losing a bit over 15,000 electors to the north which I think is considerable and then gaining 36,000 from the current seat of North Sydney.

"So it is quite a major shift of taking on pretty much the totality of that whole North Sydney area.

"So it is a big change and I'm very conscious of how we will need to look at what the implications of that are."

Ms Steggall said she would support Ms Tink in any way she can.

"I strongly support Kylea. I think she's done a fantastic job representing the people of North Sydney. She's very passionate and a fantastic independent so I would absolutely support her in any way I can," she said.

"It is an interesting process that I sort of, you know whether the Electoral Commission doesn't seem to take a minimal approach to boundary changes. They've proposed quite a significant redesign."

– Isabella Pesch

2:07 pm June 14, 2024

Tink 'focused on North Sydney' amid AEC shake-up

Staff writers

Independent MP Kylea Tink. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Martin Ollman

Teal independent MP Kylea Tink says she remains focused on the North Sydney community, as the Australian Electoral Commission proposes abolishing the federal seat.

The proposed redistribution, contained in the AEC's just-released boundary redistribution for NSW, would mean Ms Tink would lose the seat she snatched from the Liberals at 2022 election.

"As the proud independent representative for the people of North Sydney, I am obviously disappointed by today’s draft boundary announcement from the Australian Electoral Commission. But this has never been about me," Ms Tink said in a statement.

"May 2022 was a turning point in Australian federal politics, and North Sydney was one of the first communities to stand up that year for independent representation.

"As one of the original 75 divisions contested at Australia’s first federal election, and a seat held by prime ministers and trailblazing independents, North Sydney has also long punched above its weight in its contribution to building a better Australia."

Ms Tink said her focus remains on the community of North Sydney.

"I will continue to stand up for and fight for the people of North Sydney on the issues that matter most to our community. This includes continuing to hold both major parties to account for their lack of ambition and action on climate change.

"North Sydney is also desperate for measures to tackle housing affordability and the cost of living, address intergenerational inequality, protect the environment for future generations, and promote a smart, future-focused economy.

"The North Sydney community will continue to experience the same level of representation that they’ve had over the past two years. I remain committed to the independent political movement and will continue to support it wherever and whenever I can.

"This is a draft proposal and there is now a further process to go through. I will have more to say on this in due course."

– Isabella Pesch