UPDATE: Controversial former CFMEU boss John Setka has been arrested and charged with sending threatening and abusive emails to a union administrator. The arrest occurred Wednesday morning at Setka’s home in Footscray, Victoria, where police seized electronic devices, including a phone and an iPad.
Authorities allege that Setka sent a series of menacing emails in response to a production notice issued on October 27 and a follow-up letter the next day. He has been charged with seven counts of using a communications device to menace, harass, and offend.
Setka, aged 61, resigned as the head of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime and Energy Union (CFMEU) in 2024 after a damning investigation by Nine revealed alleged criminal links within the construction industry. This investigation indicated that major construction projects in Victoria and New South Wales had been infiltrated by underworld figures and bikies posing as union representatives.
In mid-2024, the CFMEU’s construction and general division, along with all its state branches, were placed into administration due to serious allegations of misconduct, corruption, and violence. Setka built a significant following during his tenure, but his leadership was marred by numerous controversies.
He has been granted bail and is scheduled to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on January 30, 2026. This development marks a significant escalation in the ongoing scrutiny of union leadership and the integrity of labor organizations in Australia.
As this situation unfolds, many are closely watching the implications for both Setka and the CFMEU. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
