Should Labour split with the CMFEU?

[Caesar]

So did Setka actually make the reported comments about Rosie Batty? I'm confused.

 

[Elroo]

Maritime?

Maritime Union of Australia official Chris Cain says Anthony Albanese should consider resigning for accepting “false” allegations about John Setka, claiming the CFMEU Victorian leader had been “stitched up” by his enemies.​

​

Mr Cain, the MUA’s Western Australian secretary, attended the CFMEU national executive meeting were Mr Setka is alleged to have made disparaging comments about domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty.​

​

But Mr Cain said he was “sitting five feet away” from Mr Setka and he denied making comments critical of Ms Batty. Mr Setka has also denied the claims and refused to resign.​

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/na...s/news-story/698386aa6ca6137ca933c3ccc6a5af59

Mr Cain? I know Chris fairly well, and I know the only people who'd call him Mr Cain would be the Police or a Judge.

 

[BotsMaster]

Has anyone here had any dealings with John Setka? Is he as bad as what the media has portrayed him out to be?

 

[Caesar]

Has anyone here had any dealings with John Setka? Is he as bad as what the media has portrayed him out to be?

I am sure Chism would know him, and I'd wager Contra Mundum has run across him at some point as well.

I can't claim personal knowledge, but from those I've spoken to, people's opinions on him are pretty divided. He has repeatedly stepped over the line in his union activities, abusing and harassing ABCC staff and company management - but then things like the Swanson Street wall incident happen, and you can sort of see why he was so worked up. The one thing you can't really question about him is his passion and commitment as an advocate for his members - which causes a lot of politicians frustration or embarrassment at times (e.g. his abuse of Kevin Rudd last year), but endears him to the CFMEU base.

I can't speak to his private legal troubles, I know nothing of those.

 

[Snake_Baker]

He has repeatedly stepped over the line in his union activities, abusing and harassing ABCC staff and company management........

I casn't see how that could be classified as getting out of line. It's what he's there to do.

 

[Caesar]

I casn't see how that could be classified as getting out of line. It's what he's there to do.

Punch horses, smash windshields and tell people to die of cancer?

I don't know what my opinion on the guy is, truthfully. He is an easy whipping boy for anyone who wants to paint unions as militant and obstructive bullies - even to the point where I think that the Coalition would probably be more sorry to see him go than the parliamentary Labor Party. But he was right about Grocon when everyone was telling him to pull his head in, and his members seem to love him. And what do I know about the construction industry?

I do think people like Joe De Bruyn (whilst less visible and therefore less politically embarrassing a lot of the time) are far more harmful to the ALP and union movement than someone like Setka.

 

[Snake_Baker]

Punch horses, smash windshields and tell people to die of cancer?

Just tabloid level issues mate. We're not talking about the night of the long knives here.

Every now and then you have to break a bit of glass.

 

[Poor Form]

So did Setka actually make the reported comments about Rosie Batty? I'm confused.

He denies the way they were characterised he claims the context was that since the Rosie Battie incident mens' rights in terms of separation have been eroded according to him this is what his lawyer told him he stressed he wasn't having a dig at Battie and that it was only used as a "since the Battie incident, mens' rights have been eroded". The media refuse to report precisely what was said in exact terms and just use the line "criticized Rosie Battie".

I'm not a fan of Setka at all but this is a hit job.

EDIT:
https://www.3aw.com.au/john-setka-digs-in-for-the-fight-refuses-to-step-aside/

Interview with Neil Mitchell where he denies, also earlier a caller claiming to be a union member said this was exactly the context.

 

[its free real estate]

To me it looks like a stitch up intended to force Albanese into a difficult position. Torn between the wet blanket types and the union base.

 

[GuruJane]

Meh

Libs were an unmitigated ****show for 6 years and got re-elected.
This is nothing.

Not quite nothing .... Tony Abbott's royal commission into Bill Shorten served as the shadowy backdrop protecting Liberal marginal seats on MAY 18...
along with Tony Abbott's Stopping the People Smuggler boats and Tony Abbott's Axing of the Carbon Tax.

As you will find - all three will continue dropping valuable fruit into the hands of the Liberals for the foreseeable future.

 

[Caesar]

To me it looks like a stitch up intended to force Albanese into a difficult position.

By whom? I doubt it's something the Labor Right would do - Setka was a staunch supporter of Shorten.

 

[Taylor]

By whom? I doubt it's something the Labor Right would do - Setka was a staunch supporter of Shorten.

What if Shorten got tapped on the shoulder by the other side?

 

[Contra Mundum]

So did Setka actually make the reported comments about Rosie Batty? I'm confused.

Not to sure he did C - my mail is that National Executive asked what the prospects were being found guilty without conviction - he said "I might have had a chance before but not after Rosie Batty has raised the profile of DV" [the complainant is his Mrs BTW] - so its a bit less egregious than it has been painted

 

[its free real estate]

By whom? I doubt it's something the Labor Right would do - Setka was a staunch supporter of Shorten.

Not to sure he did C - my mail is that National Executive asked what the prospects were being found guilty without conviction - he said "I might have had a chance before but not after Rosie Batty has raised the profile of DV" [the complainant is his Mrs BTW] - so its a bit less egregious than it has been painted

The question in all these things is of course: who leaked it?

 

[Contra Mundum]

The question in all these things is of course: who leaked it?

He is a man with many enemies brother!!

 

[Juddism]

By whom? I doubt it's something the Labor Right would do - Setka was a staunch supporter of Shorten.

ALP will never be elected if Shorten is leader, period.

Anyways, short story, I once had dealings with the CFMEU over the phone, absolutely the worst and most agro bunch of imbeciles I've has the misfortune of dealing with.

Trying to get me to bypass company policy to suit two of their employees, when I refused I copped a torrent of verbal abuse, then I politely hung up on him.

I understand construction is a dangerous job but officials trying to bully anyone and everyone won't get them anywhere or the ALP elected.

For 100k votes the ALP is better severing ties with them.

 

[Juddism]

Not quite nothing .... Tony Abbott's royal commission into Bill Shorten served as the shadowy backdrop protecting Liberal marginal seats on MAY 18...
along with Tony Abbott's Stopping the People Smuggler boats and Tony Abbott's Axing of the Carbon Tax.

As you will find - all three will continue dropping valuable fruit into the hands of the Liberals for the foreseeable future.

Still waiting for my $500 energy saving since CT was canned...

 

[its free real estate]

He is a man with many enemies brother!!

Of course, and there are also many other layers to this, eg who Setka supports in the ALP, who is currently leader of the ALP, etc.

Setka is a bad guy but there are a lot of bad guys in politics, and building and construction. A former Victorian Premier has numerous rumours about DV, and since his premiership has been appointed to various important roles. I know of a case of a fairly wealthy property developer charged with DV, then the police 'forgot' to show up to court, and the case collapsed.

 

[Contra Mundum]

Of course, and there are also many other layers to this, eg who Setka supports in the ALP, who is currently leader of the ALP, etc.

Setka is a bad guy but there are a lot of bad guys in politics, and building and construction. A former Victorian Premier has numerous rumours about DV, and since his premiership has been appointed to various important roles. I know of a case of a fairly wealthy property developer charged with DV, then the police 'forgot' to show up to court, and the case collapsed.

He is an oaf. I don't say that to be cute - just its hard to narrow down the suspect leakers from the people in the room.

 

[its free real estate]

He is an oaf. I don't say that to be cute - just its hard to narrow down the suspect leakers from the people in the room.

Yes, but I don't think what makes the news should be considered 'news'. Journos simply run what they're told to run by sources they rely on. Someone leaked against Setka for political reasons, not because Setka is uniquely bad, or what he has said or done is beyond the pale.

 

[Contra Mundum]

Yes, but I don't think what makes the news should be considered 'news'. Journos simply run what they're told to run by sources they rely on. Someone leaked against Setka for political reasons, not because Setka is uniquely bad, or what he has said or done is beyond the pale.

Agree and I understand the construction unions not copping trial by media - but whether or not its true now is irrelevant to the damage he is doing by remaining.

 

[smokingjacket]

Not in reality, but that’s what the left wing online punters want! Give them what they want I say.

Without the unions, there is no Labor Party.

 

[NSWCROW]

H

Not quite nothing .... Tony Abbott's royal commission into Bill Shorten served as the shadowy backdrop protecting Liberal marginal seats on MAY 18...
along with Tony Abbott's Stopping the People Smuggler boats and Tony Abbott's Axing of the Carbon Tax.

As you will find - all three will continue dropping valuable fruit into the hands of the Liberals for the foreseeable future.

Ayyyy it's peddo defender jane !!!

I'd pull my head in i were you darl


Also , absolutely NOTHING to do with what i've posted , just made yourself look an even bigger goose.
You could learn a thing or 2 from miranda devine i reckon


Seriously though , making excuses for peddos , absolutely disgraceful .

 

[its free real estate]

Agree and I understand the construction unions not copping trial by media - but whether or not its true now is irrelevant to the damage he is doing by remaining.

Imo he should stare the media parasites down.

 

[smokingjacket]

Might be something to it as an internal stitch up if the best Setka could do for an alibi within the union movement was Cain.