Albanese to dump union boss John Setka

Federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese has called for his party to expel union official John Setka, after he made controversial comments over anti-domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty.

The Victorian secretary of the CFMMEU reportedly told a union meeting that Ms Batty’s advocacy work had resulted in men having fewer rights.

Ms Batty was yesterday awarded as an Officer of the Order of Australia for her advocacy work, an honour she reportedly told Mr Albanese was overshadowed by Setka’s comments.

“I spoke to Rosie Batty yesterday about her concern with the views that he expressed, as she indicated she’s disappointed that this was a distraction from the honour that she received yesterday,” Mr Albanese said this morning.

The leader of the opposition says he’ll move for Setka’s expulsion at the next meeting of the national executive.

“John Setka is completely unacceptable to me as leader of the Australian Labor Party and I don’t want him in our party. It’s that simple.

“I have also asked the National Executive Committee to suspend his membership from the Labor Party from today. It stops,” Mr Albanese said.

The Labor leader is also confident he’ll have the unanimous support from the national executive, after other senators and leaders spoke out about the comments.

NSW Labor Senator Doug Cameron took to twitter, calling for Setka’s resignation.

I strongly support the CFMMEU. Workers need effective and strategic unions. It’s what my union called being a “mindful militant”. There is nothing mindful about the alleged behaviour of John Setka. He should put the movement and members first by resigning.

— Doug Cameron (@DougCameron51) June 10, 2019