Unions royal commission: we’re not criminals insists John Setka

John Setka has slammed the trade union inquiry it dropped its investigation into corruption allegations against him.

State Secretary of the CFMEU John Setka.

The boss of the militant Victorian construction union branch, John Setka, has slammed the trade union royal commission after the inquiry dropped its investigation into corruption allegations against him, declaring “we’re not criminals”.

In a rare radio interview this morning, Mr Setka conceded recent revelations from the Commission over credit card fraud at the National Union of Workers had been “eye-opener” but branded the inquiry “as unbiased as the Collingwood cheer squad”.

He also made an impassioned defence against suggestions there should be a standing royal commission into unions and the government’s attempts to restore the Australian Building and Construction Commission.

“The construction industry is no worse or better than any other industry,” Mr Setka said. “It just seems to be the place that gets targeted.

“We’re hard working Australians, I mean we’ve helped build Australia … I mean we’re not criminals, we’re not gangsters.

“All these allegations against us there’s not one shred of evidence or proof

“I mean we’re hard working construction workers, you know, eight times more likely to die at work than anyone else, and yet they want to put more restrictions on us, and have this big hammer hanging over our heads.”

During a friendly exchange, Melbourne radio host Jon Faine on ABC 774 suggested the inquiry had sought to bury news absolving Mr Setka of corruption “late on a Friday” — despite the commission releasing counsel’s submissions at 3.40pm.

“The royal commission was, as much as anything, set up because of activities allegedly conducted by Mr Setka,” Faine told listeners.

That’s why, Faine said, it was “astonishing” that counsel had released submissions that essentially cleared Mr Setka “after the newspapers had been sent to the printer”.

He asked Mr Setka: “What about the announcement coming late on a Friday?”

Mr Setka replied: “Far as I’m concerned it’s a political witch hunt, I mean they are biased ... So I mean it comes as no surprise to us, or myself”.

Mr Setka was accused by builder Andrew Zaf of taking free roofing materials in exchange for industrial peace. The allegations aired on the ABC’s 7:30 Report.

Counsel’s submissions released at 3.40pm argued Mr Zaf was not a credible witness.

The CFMEU later issued a press release accusing the inquiry of trying to fit an “anti-union theory” adding, “John Setka deserves an apology from the Liberal Party’s Royal Commission, from Fairfax, Nick McKenzie and from ABC’s 7:30 report”.

Mr Setka remains the subject of a recommendation he face coercion and blackmail charges, outlined in Commissioner Dyson Heydon’s interim report.

The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy union agreed to pay Grocon and Boral $3.5 million and $9 million respectively to settle legal action over industrial disputes this year led by Mr Setka.