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‘Working man's sport': John Setka defends push to remove AFL umpiring chief
‘Working man's sport': John Setka defends push to remove AFL umpiring chief

Sydney Morning Herald

time4 days ago

  • Sydney Morning Herald

‘Working man's sport': John Setka defends push to remove AFL umpiring chief

Disgraced former CFMEU boss John Setka has denied trying to coerce the AFL into sacking umpiring chief Steve McBurney, saying he was justified in his criticism because McBurney acted with anti-union 'zealotry' and should not be overseeing a 'working man's sport'. Setka made the comments in his defence to legal action taken against him by the Fair Work Ombudsman over his extraordinary spray against McBurney, former boss of the Australian Building and Construction Commission, in news articles and radio appearances in 2024. The FWO alleges Setka took adverse action against McBurney over decisions he made as head of the ABCC, including initiating or participating in more than 50 court actions against the union between 2018 and 2023, when he was leading the commission. It also alleges Setka threatened the AFL that CFMEU members would work to rule at any worksite related to an AFL building project as part of his efforts to coerce the AFL to dump McBurney. The legal action could lead to large fines reaching into the hundreds of thousands of dollars against Setka and the CFMEU. Until last week, Setka had failed to file any defence to the FWO claim, telling the Federal Court he was unable to attend to the matter due to poor health. Loading Along with his long-awaited defence to the FWO claim, Setka has also filed a counterclaim against the CFMEU, alleging he was acting within his remit as the head of the Victorian arm of the union at the time and that the union's administrator had refused to pay for his legal fees. Setka stood down from his union role in July 2024 days ahead of an investigation led by this masthead, Building Bad, which revealed serious ongoing misconduct within the union and links to organised crime figures. He has long claimed he was unfairly targeted in the investigation. The media investigation led to an administrator being appointed to the union to weed out rogue elements.

‘Working man's sport': John Setka defends push to remove AFL umpiring chief
‘Working man's sport': John Setka defends push to remove AFL umpiring chief

The Age

time4 days ago

  • The Age

‘Working man's sport': John Setka defends push to remove AFL umpiring chief

Disgraced former CFMEU boss John Setka has denied trying to coerce the AFL into sacking umpiring chief Steve McBurney, saying he was justified in his criticism because McBurney acted with anti-union 'zealotry' and should not be overseeing a 'working man's sport'. Setka made the comments in his defence to legal action taken against him by the Fair Work Ombudsman over his extraordinary spray against McBurney, former boss of the Australian Building and Construction Commission, in news articles and radio appearances in 2024. The FWO alleges Setka took adverse action against McBurney over decisions he made as head of the ABCC, including initiating or participating in more than 50 court actions against the union between 2018 and 2023, when he was leading the commission. It also alleges Setka threatened the AFL that CFMEU members would work to rule at any worksite related to an AFL building project as part of his efforts to coerce the AFL to dump McBurney. The legal action could lead to large fines reaching into the hundreds of thousands of dollars against Setka and the CFMEU. Until last week, Setka had failed to file any defence to the FWO claim, telling the Federal Court he was unable to attend to the matter due to poor health. Loading Along with his long-awaited defence to the FWO claim, Setka has also filed a counterclaim against the CFMEU, alleging he was acting within his remit as the head of the Victorian arm of the union at the time and that the union's administrator had refused to pay for his legal fees. Setka stood down from his union role in July 2024 days ahead of an investigation led by this masthead, Building Bad, which revealed serious ongoing misconduct within the union and links to organised crime figures. He has long claimed he was unfairly targeted in the investigation. The media investigation led to an administrator being appointed to the union to weed out rogue elements.

Union interference added $22 million to major Brisbane build site: Premier
Union interference added $22 million to major Brisbane build site: Premier

Sydney Morning Herald

time6 days ago

  • Politics
  • Sydney Morning Herald

Union interference added $22 million to major Brisbane build site: Premier

The actions of the CFMEU at Brisbane's Centenary Bridge Upgrade job site added $22 million to the project, Premier David Crisafulli claims. Speaking a day after announcing a powerful inquiry into the union's 'thug' culture of bullying and intimidation, Crisafulli said 'direct costs because of the behaviour of the CFMEU', including workplace support and fencing and security to keep officials and protesting workers away from the site, amounted to $22 million. 'I'm not even factoring in the costs of project blowouts because of time and the kind of intimidation … I'm talking about the direct costs on one site because of the behaviour of one union,' Crisafulli told reporters on Monday morning. Crisafulli announced the commission of inquiry on Sunday after a damning 45-page report found the Queensland branch of the controversial building union cultivated a culture of violence, which was 'eagerly executed' by some union organisers, delegates and rank-and-file members. The report, by barrister Geoffrey Watson, found the Queensland union's former leadership Michael Ravbar and Jade Ingham oversaw a culture of abuse and harassment that included threats and intimidation of women and children. The construction and general division of the CFMEU was placed into administration nationwide last year amid claims bikie and organised crime figures had infiltrated the organisation. Crisafulli promised support for witnesses during the inquiry, which was due to begin in August and run for 12 months. 'I'm mindful if we don't do this quickly we run the risk of enabling this behaviour to continue in the shadows,' he said.

Union interference added $22 million to major Brisbane build site: Premier
Union interference added $22 million to major Brisbane build site: Premier

The Age

time6 days ago

  • Politics
  • The Age

Union interference added $22 million to major Brisbane build site: Premier

The actions of the CFMEU at Brisbane's Centenary Bridge Upgrade job site added $22 million to the project, Premier David Crisafulli claims. Speaking a day after announcing a powerful inquiry into the union's 'thug' culture of bullying and intimidation, Crisafulli said 'direct costs because of the behaviour of the CFMEU', including workplace support and fencing and security to keep officials and protesting workers away from the site, amounted to $22 million. 'I'm not even factoring in the costs of project blowouts because of time and the kind of intimidation … I'm talking about the direct costs on one site because of the behaviour of one union,' Crisafulli told reporters on Monday morning. Crisafulli announced the commission of inquiry on Sunday after a damning 45-page report found the Queensland branch of the controversial building union cultivated a culture of violence, which was 'eagerly executed' by some union organisers, delegates and rank-and-file members. The report, by barrister Geoffrey Watson, found the Queensland union's former leadership Michael Ravbar and Jade Ingham oversaw a culture of abuse and harassment that included threats and intimidation of women and children. The construction and general division of the CFMEU was placed into administration nationwide last year amid claims bikie and organised crime figures had infiltrated the organisation. Crisafulli promised support for witnesses during the inquiry, which was due to begin in August and run for 12 months. 'I'm mindful if we don't do this quickly we run the risk of enabling this behaviour to continue in the shadows,' he said.

CFMEU violence cost Queensland government $22 million on one job site, premier says
CFMEU violence cost Queensland government $22 million on one job site, premier says

ABC News

time6 days ago

  • ABC News

CFMEU violence cost Queensland government $22 million on one job site, premier says

The "thuggery" of the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) cost taxpayers an additional $22 million on one project alone, the Queensland government says. Premier David Crisafulli made the claim a day after announcing the Queensland government would launch a commission of inquiry into allegations of a culture of violence within the state branch of the union. Mr Crisafulli said the union's disruptive tactics had included blocking deliveries and threatening workers. As a result, additional fencing, lighting and CCTV had to be installed at the site and security was ramped up, which had cost $22 million since February last year. One incident at the site was referenced in a damning report into the union released last week. Barrister Geoffrey Watson detailed an occasion where more than ten CFMEU members surrounded a car being driven by two AWU organisers when they were leaving the site in February last year. As captured on a dash cam, a group of workers began rocking the car and shouting at those inside. Mr Watson said the identity of "most" of those involved was still unknown. Mr Crisafulli on Monday said the incident "typified the thuggery of the CFMEU" and was a consequence of having a "militant union". Mr Crisafulli said no one involved in that incident had been held to account for their behaviour. Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg said the costs associated with delays and the CFMEU "deliberately" trying to interrupt work was a large portion of an additional $55 million which had been directed towards the Centenary Bridge upgrade. He said 70 days of work had been lost. "They would deliberately protest on days where there [were] critical tasks," he said. A commission of inquiry can compel witnesses to give evidence, and charges can be recommended once completed. Mr Crisafulli has described it as the "strongest lever" available to the government. There's no details on cost for the commission, but the premier said on Monday he would like to see it begin next month and run for around a year. Mr Crisafulli promised the commission would provide an additional level of protection for witnesses to come forward. The commission of inquiry has been welcomed by the Property Council and the Civil Contractors' Federation. Mr Crisafulli said he did not see a place for the CFMEU in Queensland under its current business model. Instead, he's promised to return "productivity to job sites". "I yearn for a day when the likes of the CFMEU aren't in business and they're replaced with the kind of unions that actually care about their workers ... and productivity," he said. Mr Watson was commissioned to write the report by Queensland administrator Mark Irving KC. The Queensland branch of the union was placed into administration last year following allegations the Victorian branch was linked to bikie gangs and crime syndicates. The report was based on 60 interviews Mr Watson conducted. It detailed the union's use of violence to "support a pursuit of political, industrial and financial power" and alleged that violence or threats were used against women, workplace health and safety inspectors and in some cases, against politicians. Several former key figures in the union, including secretary Michael Ravbar and assistant secretary Jade Ingham, who were accused of having "cultivated a culture of violence" declined Mr Watson's multiple requests for interviews. Mr Watson described an "obstinate refusal to co-operate from some critical witnesses" as well as others who had been "afflicted with widespread memory loss". Mr Ravbar has rejected the allegations made by the report and told the ABC last week he had nothing to fear from a commission of inquiry. The CFMEU administrators declined to comment. Mr Crisafulli said the government had referred the allegations in the report to police and the state's Crime and Corruption Commission.

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