John Setka stripped of CFMEU membership over 27 charges
Former CFMEU leader John Setka has been expelled from the union after facing 27 disciplinary charges, including allegations he misappropriated more than $3 million. The union’s administrator says he will pursue the money as a royal commission examines conduct linked to Victoria’s Big Build infrastructure program.
Former Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) leader John Setka has been stripped of his union membership in Victoria after facing 27 disciplinary charges, including allegations he misappropriated more than $3 million, union administrator Michael Crosby said.
The expulsion ends Setka’s remaining formal link to the union as a royal commission investigates conduct involving the CFMEU and Victoria’s Labor government on the $109 billion Big Build infrastructure scheme.
“John Setka held a position of responsibility but abused that privilege to take millions of dollars from the members of the CFMEU,” Crosby said in announcing the decision.
He added: “John Setka’s conduct is shameful. He has failed in the most basic duties of a union official – to put members’ interests above all.”
Crosby said Setka had diverted $3.3 million in revenue from union merchandise and construction-site vending machines to his companies. He said the administration would pursue the funds.
The union’s forensic inquiries found that a Setka-controlled political fund received “over $400,000” from Coca-Cola Amatil. The fund earned more than $3 million through vending-machine deals at building sites and sales of CFMEU merchandise.
Setka has denied wrongdoing and previously said the vending-machine arrangement was struck before he became the union’s secretary.
The membership decision comes as the Kourakis royal commission hears testimony about the union and the state government’s conduct on the Big Build. The commission is examining allegations that some gangland figures and companies aligned with CFMEU officials profited at taxpayers’ expense.
Setka and several former CFMEU lieutenants also face civil prosecution over the suspected misuse of $329,000 in members’ money. The case concerns allegations that the funds were used to strengthen the position of Diana Asmar, a former Health Workers Union leader and Australian Labor Party powerbroker.
In September, it was reported that Setka was refusing to hand over control of more than $1 million held in a private political fund. Crosby had demanded that control of the fund be returned to the union, saying it “could have been – and should have been – income earned by the CFMEU for the benefit of its members”.
Setka led the CFMEU for 12 years. The union secured record pay and conditions for construction workers during his leadership, while also facing allegations of improper ties involving gangland figures, bikie clubs and building company bosses suspected of exploiting workers.
The CFMEU gained near-complete industrial control over government projects by 2024, according to the account presented to the royal commission. Setka’s expulsion removes his final formal membership tie to the union.
