In short:
Nine newspapers have published a story alleging criminal figures are being given high-paid jobs in the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union.
CFMEU boss John Setka stepped down from his role on Friday evening ahead of the publication of the allegations, which he described as “relentless”.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has welcomed Mr Setka’s resignation.
What’s next?
It’s not clear who will replace Mr Setka.
Allegations underworld figures are being parachuted into lucrative roles in the construction union have been published a day after Victorian CFMEU boss John Setka resigned.
An investigation by Nine newspapers claims bikies and criminals acting as Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union delegates have received hundreds of thousands of dollars working on federal and state government funded projects.
Reporter for The Age, Nick McKenzie, has told ABC News his months-long investigation uncovered “deep infiltration of underworld figures into the CFMEU”.
On Friday evening, the CFMEU confirmed Mr Setka had quit his role as head of the powerful body, effective immediately.
He had held the role for 12 years and has been a union official for almost four decades.
In a statement, Mr Setka said his decision was prompted by “relentless” media coverage.
“[The] decision is in response to the ongoing and relentless stories written with multiple allegations, whether true or not, about this great union,” the statement said.
“These stories have been constant, and while I’ve been the target of many of them, enough is enough, the ongoing false allegations continually do nothing but harm the work this great union does for its members.”
Speaking to ABC News on Saturday, reporter Nick McKenzie said there was a culture of “allegedly corrupt officials in very influential union posts”.
“While they remain, the problem remains,” Mr McKenzie said.
“(These include) multiple union delegates who have previously served as some of the highest outlaw bikie gang bosses in the country with very serious criminal convictions,” he said.
“These are guys who are now in charge of pushing the union’s business.”
When asked at a Brisbane press conference Saturday morning how he felt about Mr Setka’s resignation, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese replied “good”.
“Trade unions exist to look after workers, to look after their wages and conditions and health and safety,” he said.
Victorian Deputy Opposition leader David Southwick said it was not the first time there’d been serious allegations against John Setka and the CFMEU.
“We all know that Labor’s Big Build is a massive blowout.”
Queensland Opposition leader David Crisafulli said the CFMEU was “militant in its behaviour” and had driven down the productivity of projects.
The CFMEU declined requests for comment.
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