The long-running battle to oust union bully-boy John Setka from the Australian Labor Party was a battle that new leader Anthony Albanese had to win.
Already struggling to drag the party back to within coo-ee of the political centre, and abandon the farrago of far-left nonsense that cost it so dearly at the last election, Albo had to at least prove that he had the bottle to stand up to thuggish unionists.
He’s at least won that battle. For now.
John Setka has been expelled from the Labor Party following months of turmoil and anger over his conduct.
The CFMEU Victorian secretary had been fighting Anthony Albanese’s bid to remove him from the ALP but today withdrew his appeal…
“His membership of the party was suspended…It’s a very satisfactory result in the interests of the Labor Party and might I say in the interests of trade union people everywhere,” the Opposition Leader said.
“This is something that I think is important. It’s been important that we demonstrate Labor’s values as a party are greater than any individual and that we’re prepared to stand up for those values.”
It’s also important that Albanese at least make a show of demonstrating that he is not just a puppet of the bruvvas – and that the party does more than pay lip service to its “progressive” posturing.
“I thought over a long period of time through his actions he demonstrated values that were not consistent with the values which the Australian Labor Party holds dear. One of those values is respect for women. The fact that he’d been convicted of breaching a family violence order and the fact he was also convicted and pleaded guilty to harassment indicates that’s the case.
“There’s also been a range of activities which are in breach of both the Victorian rules of the ALP and the values of the Australian Labor Party.”
Which is a polite way of saying that Setka has a rap sheet as long as his arm.
Not that Setka’s going quietly, of course.
John Setka has gone out all guns blazing, launching an attack on Labor leader Anthony Albanese.
In a scathing broadside in the wake of his expulsion from the Labor party, the controversial union boss said he wasn’t expelled, he quit.
theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/politicsnow-big-stick-energy-laws-up-for-debate
What remains to be seen is whether not just the Labor leader but his ally, ACTU president Sally McManus, will have to deal with one of the country’s biggest unions gone feral. The CFMEU is not known for lying down. If Setka remains as secretary of perhaps the most militant union branch in Australia, there will be interesting times ahead.