Spotlight: John Setka makes a damning admission in first interview after leaving the CFMEU
For weeks there have been claims of bikie infiltration within the CFMEU.
And in his first sit down interview, with 7NEWS Spotlight, John Setka has broken his silence and admitted, those claims are true.
Setka was the head of the CFMEU’s largest branch for over a decade and largely controlled the union’s movements across the country, all from his Victorian office.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.When allegations surfaced that outlaw motorcycle members were working on construction sites, the country was shocked.
The only person who wasn’t, was Setka.
“To hear government and people in the ACTU say: ‘Oh, shock horror … oh dear, there’s bikies working in the building industry...’ Bikies work in every industry,” he told 7NEWS Spotlight.
“Bikies have been working in the building industry since Jesus wore shorts.
“They work in other industries. I mean, it’s hardly shock horror hardly in news item.”
Setka believes it’s not the union’s job to police which of its members hold bikie memberships, as long as they aren’t currently involved in illegal activity.
“We don’t walk on a site and say, excuse me, are you a member of a bikie gang? I mean, we’re a union,” he said.
“We look after our members and if a person happens to be a member of a bikie gang and he’s a paid-up member of the CFMEU, we will represent him.”
On Friday, the CFMEU’s construction arms were placed into administration, effective immediately, pushing over 200 officials out of the embattled union.
The move came after the passing of federal legislation allowed the union to be taken over for the next three years.
The union, which had hoped to appoint its own administrators, hit back immediately saying it was “shocked and appalled” by the fallout.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese however declared there was no place for corruption within the union movement.
“To have a corrupt union, you need a corrupt employer to be paying them money and there’s no place for it,” he said.
Setka has admitted that he said “some things” when he lead the union, but is adamant the claims of an underworld take over are “absolute bulls***”.
John Setka’s explosive interview will air on 7NEWS Spotlight at 8.40pm on Sunday.
