John Setka slammed for ‘vile slur’ likening Coalition to Nazi Germany

Kelly O’Dwyer has rebuked Victorian CFMEU official John Setka for a “vile slur” which she says likens the federal government to Nazi Germany.

CFMEU State Secretary John Setka. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

Industrial Relations Minister Kelly O’Dwyer has angrily rebuked Victorian CFMEU official John Setka for a “vile slur” which she says likens the federal government to Nazi Germany.

Mr Setka posted the Martin Luther King Jr quote “never forget that everything Hitler did in Germany was legal” alongside a picture of a major union rally to social media.

The post also included quotes from Thomas Jefferson — about the obligation to disobey unjust laws — and Mahatma Gandhi who said an unjust law was a species of violence.

Thomas Jefferson
If a Law is unjust a man is not only right to disobey it he is obliged to do so
Martin Luther King
Never forget that everything Hitler did in Germany was legal
Mahatma Gandi
An unjust law is itself a species of violence. Arrest for its breach is more so#auspol pic.twitter.com/9XM2VDNjKz

— John Setka (@CFMEUJohnSetka) October 22, 2018

But Ms O’Dwyer was outraged, calling on Labor leader Bill Shorten to condemn the mention of Adolf Hitler.

“His vile slur against the Federal Govt likening it to the Hitler regime is beyond repugnant,” Ms O’Dwyer tweeted.

.@CFMEUJohnSetka has done it again. His vile slur against the Federal Govt likening it to the Hitler regime is beyond repugnant. Will @billshortenmp condemn this or meekly condone it? #SallysLaw #auspol https://t.co/3G2EiBchEj

— Kelly O'Dwyer (@KellyODwyer) October 22, 2018

The spat between the union heavyweight and the minister erupted ahead of thousands of workers hitting the streets on Tuesday to campaign for changes to workplace laws.

The ACTU estimates 150,000 people will rally in Melbourne and thousands more in Sydney, Darwin, Wollongong, Cairns, Townsville and other regional centres. Labor MP Graham Perrett hit back at Ms O’Dwyer, telling her to get over herself. “Mr Setka merely put up a well known quote pointing out citizens should speak up when laws are unjust,” Mr Perrett tweeted.

Industrial Relations Minister Kelly O'Dywer. Picture: Hollie Adams

“You know what’s truly ‘beyond repugnant’ — your government deifying privilege and trying to crush this nation’s egalitarian spirit.”

In September, Mr Setka apologised after posting a picture of his children holding a sign saying “Go get f*#*ed’’ with the caption “Leave our dads alone and go catch the real criminals you cowards”.

The controversy sparked a tense debate with Prime Minister Scott Morrison threatening to deregister the construction union.

Mr Setka, who is the Victorian secretary of the union, deleted that post saying he was emotional on Father’s Day after a tough year on his family.

AAP