Construction Union secretary John Setka addresses the Labor Party national conference in December. He is a key union and factional figure.Credit:AAP
Through his lawyer Mr Setka,54,flagged to the Magistrate’s Court last week that he would formally plead guilty to using a carriage service to harass a woman in October last year. He would also plead guilty to another charge of persistently breaching a court order.
Police prosecutors withdrew about 30 other charges,including recklessly causing injury to the woman,who cannot be named for legal reasons.
Mr Setka’s situation is a dilemma for the ALP,the CFMMEU and the wider union movement,whose leaders – including Mr Setka himself – have been outspoken in their condemnation of violence against women.
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Labor has also accused the Coalition of having a “woman problem”.
Despite much hand-wringing behind the scenes and talk of Mr Setka’s position as CFMMEU leader being untenable,no senior labour movement figure has yet spoken up or demanded action against him.
After taking extended leave,and the federal election,Mr Setka returned to his position as CFMMEU secretary last week.