Unions ready to see ALP in court

The CFMEU has engaged prominent QC Ron Merkel as unions prepare a legal challenge over the ALP’s takeover of the Victorian branch.

CFMEU national political organiser Elizabeth Doidge.

The CFMEU has engaged prominent QC Ron Merkel as unions prepare a legal challenge over the ALP’s takeover of the Victorian branch.

The Australian understands a letter on behalf of aggrieved ­unions will be sent to the ALP’s national executive on Thursday, warning an injunction will be sought unless the Friday deadline on Victorian preselections is lifted.

The unions would then launch a legal challenge in the Supreme Court of Victoria against the national executive takeover of the Victorian branch.

Unions involved in the challenge include the Construction Forestry Maritine Mining and Energy Union, the Australian Workers Union and the United Firefighters Union.

The unions are furious with the “stability deal” struck ­between elements of the Right and the Left, as well as practical implications of the national takeover of the Victorian branch after former power­broker Adem Somyurek was kicked out of the party for ­alleged branch ­stacking.

CFMEU national political ­organiser Elizabeth Doidge — a close ally of Anthony Albanese’s union nemesis John Setka — said unions were ready to take on the ALP.

“We are ready to lodge in the Supreme Court. We are just going to send that letter and give them one last chance,” Ms Doidge said.

“Albo’s actions ­explain the real reason behind the intervention, so he and his mates who didn’t have any real power or support could run things their own way from ­behind closed doors.”

The factional brawling has also raised questions about the role of the former National Union of Workers within the Victorian government.

The NUW has three influential right-wing ministers but there are ructions within the broader Right about how much control the union-backed MPs should have.

The old union has folded into the Left faction but has the Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas and two other senior ministers — Martin Pakula and Jaala Pulford — in cabinet.

Sources said parts of the shop assistants union had declared the NUW sub-faction persona non grata.

“There is going to be a massive blow-up,” a source said.

Under Mr Albanese’s push for national executive to finalise Victorian preselections on ­Friday, former state secretary Sam Rae is likely to be ­selected as the Labor candidate for the newly created seat of Hawke.

This is despite the Victorian Right only having two women out of 11 lower house MPs.

In an email to Labor members, former Victorian Labor minister Kay Setches wrote she would nominate for Hawke, ­declaring she “cannot stand by and watch another safe seat go to the boys”.

“The Victorian Right has and continues to be recalcitrant ­regarding the preselection of women MPs,” Ms Setches wrote.

“That’s why I am nominating for the seat of Hawke, and I’m encouraging all of you to nominate as well.”