The first part of the months-long investigation was published by this masthead on Saturday morning. The second instalment will be published on Sunday morning, with more coverage through the weekend, including on 60 Minutes on Sunday night.
The investigation features secret surveillance and new audio revealing how bikies, criminals and underworld figures have infiltrated the building industry in Victoria and NSW, including on large publicly funded projects.
John Setka arriving at the ACTU office in 2019.Credit: Eddie Jim
It also uncovered unprecedented details of senior bikie figures and criminals being parachuted into lucrative union roles, with the problems extending to the Indigenous employment sector.
In the face of repeated questioning about the explosive allegations, Setka resigned late on Friday.
“These stories have been constant, and while I’ve been the target of many of them, enough is enough,” he said on Friday night following his resignation from the CFMEU.
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“If my stepping down can stop these malicious attacks on our members and officials and allow this great union to continue to fight for our members, for their wages and conditions, so that they go home safely to their families each day, then I’m happy.”
The Victorian opposition on Saturday called on Premier Jacinta Allan to hold an urgent investigation into the CFMEU.
Deputy Liberal leader David Southwick and industrial relations spokesman David Hodgett accused Allan and Labor of failing to act on the militant union and again committed to set up a new workplace umpire for the construction industry if elected.
“Reports today of widespread organised crime infiltration of Victorian taxpayer-funded major projects through the Labor-backed CFMEU are deeply concerning, but not surprising,” they said in a statement.
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“Under Labor, reports of misconduct, intimidation, rorts, standover tactics and thuggish behaviour on Big Build sites has become commonplace, yet time and again, Premier Jacinta Allan and the Labor government have failed to take appropriate action.”
In response to specific questions about what due diligence the NSW Labor government had conducted on labour hire firms engaged for its state projects, a spokesperson for Premier Chris Minns said there was “absolutely no tolerance for criminal or corrupt behaviour in the building industry, in unions, or anywhere”.
“We are watching closely and, as we have previously shown, are prepared to take action to protect the integrity of the construction sector in NSW and the Labor Party in NSW.”
The Victorian government was contacted for comment.
South Australian Labor Premier Peter Malinauskas on Saturday said bikies did not belong in the labour movement.
“It is my firm view that construction workers deserve to be represented by committed professionals, not people hanging out with bikie gangs,” he wrote in a post on X.
“If there is any established connection, then get them out!”
Malinauskas has asked police to investigate whether there are any links between the construction union and bikie gangs in the state, the Adelaide Advertiser reported on Saturday.
NSW opposition industrial relations spokesman Damien Tudehope on Saturday said Labor should go further by not accepting donations from the CFMEU and preventing its members from joining the party.
“For too long, Labor has been in bed with union leaders like Setka, turning a blind eye to their corruption and bullying tactics,” Tudehope said.
“NSW will pay the price as projects are delayed and costs blow out to satisfy their union mates.”
Federal opposition employment and workplace relations spokeswoman Michaelia Cash called on the Labor Party to return any money donated by the CFMEU.
She said the federal government must act immediately to clean up the industry.
“The depth of criminal infiltration, revealed by the Nine newspapers, is extremely disturbing and should be of concern to every Australian,” she said.
“But past conduct by Mr Albanese and [Employment and Workplace Relations] Minister Tony Burke would indicate it is unlikely they will act against the union that donated $4.3 million to the Labor Party to help them win the election.”
The Victorian opposition has promised, if elected, to introduce a new code of practice for the building and construction industry and will establish a body, known as Construction Enforcement Victoria, to oversee and monitor compliance.
The code, which will cover major government projects, will dictate standards of conduct on-site, the settlement of disputes and the content of enterprise agreements. It will also ensure the rights to entry and freedom of association.
With Rachel Clun
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