ACTU head Sally McManus silent on John Setka’s threats and insults

ACTU head Sally McManus is refusing to condemn John Setka’s threats against the AFL as the militant unionist’s bid to oust former construction watchdog Stephen McBurney from his umpiring job is backed in by his national counterpart.

Construction, Forestry, and Maritime Employees’ Union national secretary Zach Smith foreshadowed discussion of a national campaign against the AFL unless McBurney is sacked from his role as head of umpires after league chief executive Andrew Dillon stared down Setka’s threat.

“As the head of the disgraced [Australian Building and Construction Commission], Stephen McBurney brought untold misery to the lives of workers he unfairly demonised and the branch is very rightly expressing the genuine anger of its members,” Smith said on Friday.

“The national union is yet to discuss potential action against the AFL, but there’s zero doubt the pain the ABCC caused under McBurney is still being deeply felt by construction workers across Australia.”

The Albanese government disbanded the commission in late 2022 over accusations the Coalition-created agency was more preoccupied with prosecuting the CFMEU than protecting workers.

Setka this week threatened his members would delay AFL construction projects unless McBurney was fired, prompting Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke to warn the branch secretary’s plans were potentially unlawful.

Projects that could be affected include a new, yet-to-be-approved $715 million stadium in Hobart, where the league’s 19th club the Tasmania Devils will play, and Adelaide’s new $100 million headquarters at Thebarton.

Comment was sought from ACTU secretary Sally McManus, who celebrated the abolition of the commission, but she declined to speak on the matter.