Labor leaders have finally spoken out on CFMEU leader John Setka’s threats against the AFL after the Prime Minister was labelled “weak and insipid”.
Shadow Workplace Relations Minister Michaelia Cash has slammed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for being “weak and insipid” after he didn’t condemn John Setka’s “bullying”.
This comes after CFMEU Victorian Secretary John Setka threatened to withhold cooperation on any AFL-related projects unless it fires Stephen McBurney.
“This Prime Minister of Australia needs to start standing up for the thousands and thousands of Australians that are employed by our third largest industry – the construction sector,” Ms Cash told Sky News host Steve Price.
On Wednesday, Mr Setka threatened to withhold cooperation on any AFL-related projects unless it fires the heads of umpires Stephen McBurney.
In his previous role as Australian Building and Construction Commissioner, Mr McBurney initiated legal action which resulted in millions of dollars of fines against the militant union.
Mr Setka told The Australian the CFMEU had an “obligation to pursue anti-union, anti-worker f**kers” and claimed it would pursue Mr McBurney “until the end of the earth”.
Backlash arose after Mr Setka demanded the AFL sack its chief umpire Stephen McBurney. Picture: Stuart McEvoy/The Australian.
Mr Setka called for Mr McBurney to be fired after the two were in legal battles when the chief umpire was the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas
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“This is going to cost the AFL a lot of f**king money. I hope it’s worth it. Projects without our full cooperation are going to be a f**king misery for them,” he said.
“They will regret the day they ever employed him.”
Asked on Wednesday whether he thought it was appropriate for Mr Setka to threaten the AFL, Mr Albanese pointed out he expelled the controversial union official from the Labor Party back in 2019.
But he refused to condemn the latest actions of the union boss.
“Oh look, I removed John Setka from the Labor Party, many years ago, as one of my first acts as leader,” the Prime Minister said.
On Wednesday, Mr Albanese failed to condemn the actions of Mr Setka and just pointed out that he removed the union leader from the Labor party in 2019. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman
When questioned on Thursday if he believed Mr Setka should give up on his campaign against the AFL, Mr Albanese replied: “Yes, it’s … just common sense.”
“It’s absurd to suggest that the decision by – I never heard of this bloke, to be honest … I’m not even sure what the job is – running the judiciary or the refs-” Mr Albanese said before a reporter clarified the furore was over the head of umpires.
“That’s a matter for the AFL, frankly,” the PM said.
“I don’t think there’s too much except to say that’s the case. Common sense tells you that.”
Mr Albanese has called on Mr Setka to “give up” after the union leader levelled threats at the AFL’s chief of umpiring. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard
Backing Mr Albanese’s call was Employment Minister and former union organiser Tony Burke who labelled Mr Setka’s demands as “very odd”.
“As a rule of thumb, if you want to win over the Australian people, don’t start attacking the AFL,” Mr Burke said on Thursday before voicing his bewilderment at the situation.
“I would also say anyone making any threat to Australian sport, is not the way to win over the Australian people. I find the whole thing very odd.”
Mr Setka’s aggressive comments particularly drew strong backlash across the political aisle with Coalition members decrying Mr Setka’s comments and demanding a strong response from the government.
Threats at the AFL chief umpire were described as “very odd” by Mr Burke on Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman
Liberal Senator Michaelia Cash labelled the union boss’ comments “thuggery and intimidation” and lashed out at the PM on Wednesday.
“What a weak and insipid Prime Minister that he cannot condemn the bullying, the thuggery and the intimidation of John Setka in relation to Mr McBurney and the threats made against the AFL,” Ms Cash told Sky News Australia on Wednesday.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton piled on the Prime Minister Thursday morning, imploring Mr Albanese to stand up against Mr Setka’s intimidation of the AFL.
“The Prime Minister needs to stand up for Australians and to stand up against this bullying,” Mr Dutton declared.
“We’ve now got a union leader and a very powerful union leader … who’s out there trying to intimidate the Australian Football League and so the AFL shouldn’t be subjected to these sorts of scandalous threats and good on them for standing up and pushing back.”
Ms Cash labelled the PM “weak and insipid” on Wednesday as Mr Albanese had failed to speak out on the CFMEU leader at the time. Picture: Sky News
Labor has strong ties with the CFMEU as the union donated $4.3 million to the party ahead of the 2022 Federal Election, which included $2.6 million in direct donations and $1.7 million through other means such as memberships and services, AEC disclosures showed.
Shortly after the election, the new Albanese government abolished the Australian Building and Construction Commission which had handed out at least $15 million in fines against the CFMEU.
The AFL released a statement on Wednesday supporting Mr McBurney following publication of the threats.
“Steve McBurney umpired 401 games, including four AFL grand finals, he has been a long-time mentor to umpires at every level and has done an outstanding job since returning to the AFL to take up the role of head of officiating,” the AFL said.