Victorian CFMEU leader John Setka has unleashed a new onslaught against the AFL, branding it a “little private school boys club” following CEO Andrew Dillon’s pledge to back head umpire Stephen McBurney.
Mr Dillon on Friday vowed that Mr McBurney wasn’t going anywhere – suggesting a promotion was in his future.
The AFL chief’s vow of support comes after John Setka, the secretary of the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) in Victoria, threatened to withhold cooperation on any AFL-related projects unless it fired umpire boss 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 said earlier this week his union had an “obligation to pursue anti-union, anti-worker f**kers” and it would go after Mr McBurney “until the end of the earth”.
“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.”
Mr Dillon, who took over the reins from Gillon McLachlan in 2023, highlighted Mr McBurney’s extensive experience within the league, declaring he had a “massive impact” on the AFL, including with his fellow umpires, adding he was doing an “incredible job”.
Mr Setka stood firm on his threats following the AFL boss’ comments, declaring the AFL would get “no favours” from the CFMEU.
“We haven’t changed our position one bit, we’re still doing the same thing,” he told The Australian.
“It’s just a waiting game for us. We’re patient people. We didn’t get to where we were doing stupid moves.
“Don’t worry, the AFL are going to reap the rewards of their actions, that I can guarantee you. That little private school boy’s club. I just hope they’ve got deep pockets”.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it would be “common sense” for Setka to back off the AFL – which is as far as he has been willing to go when asked to condemn the militant union boss’ unhinged behaviour.
“John Setka is someone who I expelled from the Labor party,” the Prime Minister said on Friday – before telling a reporter she was “encouraging him” by asking questions about him “given his character”.
“I think it’s up to the AFL who the AFL have in positions, and not up to anyone but the AFL”.
Shadow veterans affairs minister Barnaby Joyce said the CFMEU leader would come out triumphant because the Prime Minister and the Labor Party were too “weak” and “scared” to take a stand.
“The powerful will do as they do, the weak will suffer as they must,” Mr Joyce told Sky News Australia.
“Unfortunately, our Prime Minister is in the latter group, and the weak will always be beaten by the bully.
“Mr Setka, obviously, you know what it is, its thuggery, it’s bullying, it’s stand-over tactics, but we just don’t have the wit, nor the strength in Mr Albanese, or anybody else.
“They’re scared of him, let’s be frank – he’s going to win this fight.’
“If he can’t deal with internal issues what hope in Hades does he have at dealing with more substantial issues” Mr Joyce added – pointing out that a Prime Minister was responsible for the defence of the country.