Albanese moves to expel union leader over Rosie Batty comments
Anthony Albanese is moving to expel Victorian CFMMEU secretary John Setka from the Labor Party, after the controversial official criticised anti-domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty.
Union official John Setka talks at the Labor Party National Conference in Adelaide in December. Photo: AAP/Lukas Coch
The opposition leader said Setka had been undermining the labour movement, and his comments about Batty were “completely unacceptable”.
“I don’t want him in the party I lead. It’s that simple,” Albanese told reporters in Perth on Tuesday.
Albanese is confident the national executive of the Labor Party will unanimously support his decision.
Setka claims he was “taken out of context” after reportedly telling a union meeting that Batty’s advocacy had led to men having fewer rights.
Outgoing senior Labor senator Doug Cameron was among the first to demand Setka resign.
Cameron, a former trade unionist, said he strongly supported the “mindful militant” behaviour of Setka’s CFMMEU.
“(But) there is nothing mindful about the alleged behaviour of John Setka. He should put the movement and members first by resigning,” Cameron tweeted.
Labor senator Penny Wong said she was on Batty’s side, and Setka should “consider his position”.
“I thought his comments about Ms Batty were completely inappropriate and, as I said, his comments are not in step with the values of the labour movement,” Wong told ABC radio.
-AAP
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