Disgraced former CFMEU leader John Setka faces fresh charges for breaching court orders as he branded police action over his allegedly menacing behaviour a “woke” overreaction.
Court documents released on Thursday afternoon, hours after Setka’s appearance, also reveal police claim former senior Mongols bikie and sacked-CFMEU delegate Tyrone Bell faked safety qualifications to earn $424,000 from a major construction company.
The two separate developments at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday are the latest signs of increased law enforcement action into allegations of union corruption and criminality which included raids on Wednesday of another former top CFMEU official, and Setka ally, John Perkovic.
Outside court on Thursday, Setka attacked Taskforce Hawk, the Victoria Police squad set up to tackle misconduct in the construction industry which charged him again last month for posts about CFMEU administrators.
Fresh allegations against Setka were mentioned but not detailed in court, however the ex-union leader later told reporters the charges related to him “taking my own car”.
Charge sheets later released to The Age show police accuse Setka of attempting to locate, follow and surveil a person protected by a court order on February 7.
“That’s going to be heavily contested, and it’s just all bullshit, to be honest,” Setka said.
In February this year Setka told The Age that he had come across a “very expensive super-charged V8 car”, which he claimed to own, in a shopping centre carpark. He then used his own keys to drive it away, claiming it had been driven by someone who should not have taken it.
Inside court, his lawyer said he only received the police brief early on Thursday and opposed a media application to see the new charges as “there has been ongoing issues with threats” against Setka.
Victoria Police had advised his client to leave the state and his address had been made public by filming, he added.
After his hearing, Setka told media on William Street he was subject to vexatious prosecution.
The former union boss was first arrested last November and charged with seven counts of using a carriage service to menace, harass and offend the CFMEU’s government-appointed administrator, Mark Irving, KC.
He was charged a second time, in February, for allegedly sending emails to administration officials branding them leaking “dogs” that should “do everyone a favour and go and knock yourselves”.
He was charged a third time last month after sharing nine images on Instagram directed at CFMEU officials, suggesting one take “anti-c— tablets”. Police pushed for him to be remanded in custody, but he was granted bail under stricter conditions.
The CFMEU has also moved to expel him from the union over his threatening behaviour including telling The Age that if he runs into administrator Michael Crosby in the street “it’s not going to be good for him”.
Outside court on Thursday, Setka claimed he had simply told the administration “what I thought” in his emails that led to charges.
“If I went and bombed a nightclub, or I attacked a family with a machete, or done a home invasion, I wouldn’t get put in handcuffs, and I’d be on bail straight away,” Setka said.
“But I post the truth, and they want to deny me bail and try and lock you up for four months. Are you serious? Is this what Australia’s become? Talk about woke.
“We must be, as Aussies, all little petals now. My understanding is they’re going to start a new squadron of Victoria Police and call it the hurt-your-feelings squad.”
Sekta said he would not move interstate for his safety before taking aim at Victoria Police for his treatment during his recent arrest.
“Talk about heavy-handed. [I] get put in handcuffs, and then it’s filmed and distributed to all the media outlets. Jesus, I mean, why not just post my address and tell them where I live? The whole reason I was living in that place was that the advice of Victoria Police because it was more secure.”
Setka dismissed Taskforce Hawk as “just a political force”.
In court, his lawyer and prosecutor Alex Turner agreed to a timetable for issuing and responding to subpoenas relating to charges of using a communication device to menace, harass and offend. Those matters will return to court on November 10.
Separately, the former national vice-president of the Mongols outlaw bikie gang, who was sacked as a CFMEU delegate in 2024, also appeared in court after Taskforce Hawk arrested him on Tuesday.
Charge sheets released to The Age on Thursday afternoon show police allege “Little Ty” Bell presented a forged Certificate IV and a Diploma of Work Health and Safety to building firm Markscon.
Investigators claim the fraud led to Dynamis HSR – a company linked with Bell – gaining $424,350 for services the ex-Mongol was unqualified for.
This masthead separately revealed last month that Taskforce Hawk was investigating Bell over allegations he offered inducements to serving CFMEU officials in return for support of his business.
Bell did not speak as he appeared at a brief filing hearing on Thursday for charges of obtaining financial advantage by deception, making a false document, using a false document, and failing to notify a change of address within 24 hours per a firearm prohibition order.
He will return to court next month.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
Lachlan Abbott is a crime reporter at The Age. He was previously a city reporter and covered breaking news.Connect via email.From our partners
Read the full article here
