Greg Wilson

Greg Wilson

Former CFMEU secretary John Setka resigned ahead of the publication of the first story in the months-long investigation,and the union put its Victorian branch into administration on Monday.

The Allan government said on Saturday that its independent review would deliver an interim report by August 29 – to be released publicly – and a final report by late November.

Wilson has been tasked with investigating any gaps or limitations in the current powers of Victorian institutions or laws when it comes to responding to allegations of criminal or other unlawful conduct in the state’s construction sector. He is also expected to make recommendations on how Victorian watchdogs can co-operate better with their Commonwealth counterparts.

Premier Jacinta Allan said on Saturday that the development showed she was continuing to take action to stamp out unlawful behaviour.

Advertisement

“We will tear this rotten culture out by its roots – making sure our construction industry meets the expectations of the Victorian people,” Allan said in a statement released late Saturday afternoon.

“Unions are meant to keep people safe. We are making sure that people coming forward with critical information about conduct on worksites have the complaints processes and protections they deserve.”

Loading

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Allan were separately sent detailed evidence in 2022 that CFMEU officials were threatening extreme violence on state- and federal-funded projects,this masthead revealed on Tuesday,andit took the then deputy premier a year to reply.

More than 20 CFMEU members – some with links to organised crime –have been stood down by the union’s Victorian branch.

The Victorian Labor Party is expected to miss out on hundreds of thousands of dollars in affiliation fees now that the CFMEU’s construction division has been suspended from the party.

Victorian Labor has pocketed almost $700,000 in affiliation payments in the past five years.

Get the day’s breaking news,entertainment ideas and a long read to enjoy.Sign up to receive our Evening Edition newsletter.

Most Viewed in Politics

Loading