Former Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) branch boss John Setka has been charged with sending threatening emails to the union’s administrator.
The 61-year-old was arrested in the inner-west Melbourne suburb of Footscray on Wednesday morning by detectives from Taskforce Hawk, the unit investigating allegations of criminal behaviour linked to the construction industry.
Federal police served him with a Commonwealth search warrant, seizing a mobile phone and an iPad.
Mr Setka was interviewed and charged with seven counts of using a telecommunications device to menace, harass and offend.
Investigators alleged Mr Setka sent a number of threatening, offensive and abusive emails to a CFMEU administrator after a legal notice was served in October.
The 61-year-old will return to court in January. (AAP: Julian Smith)
The federal government forced the CFMEU into administration in August 2024 after allegations the union had engaged in bullying, corruption, and criminal infiltration.
Mr Setka was a prominent union official for almost 40 years but resigned as the head of the CFMEU construction division in July 2024, citing pressure from repeated negative media coverage of him.
He was released on bail to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on January 30.
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Martin O’Brien said the taskforce continued to investigate all allegations of criminal behaviour linked to the construction industry.
“We will not tolerate behaviour that aims to intimidate and harass people who simply want to be able to go to work and perform their job to the best of their ability,” he said.
“We could encourage anyone that has any information on concerning behaviours witnessed in any construction industry workplace to come forward and speak to police.
“As always, it can be done anonymously and reports will be treated with the strictest of confidence.”
