Ex-CFMEU boss referred to police over company visits

Holly Hales and Kat Wong, AAP

A former construction union boss has been reported to police after entering two government buildings to talk to workers.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said she referred former CFMEU boss John Setka to Victoria Police after he spoke to about 700 workers at a metro tunnel project site on Thursday, September 5.

The statement comes after Setka addressed staff at Footscray Hospital on Wednesday, which is undergoing a $1.5 billion renovation.

“There is no place for John Setka on these construction sites,” Ms Allan told reporters.

“He was unlawfully present at the locations and as such the matter has been referred to Victoria Police for further investigation.

“In terms of who is present at the worksite, there are well-established procedures and the government expects construction companies to manage this process appropriately. That has clearly not happened in the incidents of the last 24 hours.”

During his visit to the hospital construction site in Melbourne’s west, Setka launched a series of insults at the state and federal governments.

“People were wondering why I quit and I’ll be honest with you, f*****g Albo, and his f***ing bullshit,” he told employees.

Setka, who resigned in July amid allegations that bikers and underworld figures had infiltrated the union, gave insight into how his resignation came about: “They want a scalp, tell them I’m going. I’m resigning now. I’m resigning tonight.”

“My job is to protect the union and its members. I’m leaving in a few months,” he told the crowd.

The Victorian Government has asked construction giant Multiplex, which is managing the project, how the demonstration on site went.

The Fair Work Ombudsman said it is investigating allegations that former CFMEU officers visited construction sites and is encouraging people with information to come forward.

Victoria Police have been contacted for comment.

Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said Setka had the “staggering audacity” to enter a second construction site.

“John Setka has also discovered that Anthony Albanese is a weak leader,” Dutton told reporters in Sydney.

“They (the CFMEU) are dealing in misery. They go to construction sites, which drives up construction costs.”