Prime Minister Anthony Albanese needs to come clean on whether there was any deal between his Government and John Setka relating to putting the disgraced CFMEU Construction Division into administration.
Last night on the program Spotlight, Mr Setka, the former Secretary of the Victorian CFMEU Construction Division said he was given assurances through various intermediaries that if he resigned as Secretary, the CFMEU would not be placed into administration by the Albanese Government.
Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator the Hon. Michaelia Cash, said that Mr Albanese and Ministers in his Government had some very serious questions to answer.
"Mr Albanese needs to come clean about what he, his office, his Ministers or anyone in his Government knew about this alleged 'secret deal' with John Setka or anyone else in the CFMEU." Senator Cash said.
Senator Cash said it was highly alarming that when the Albanese Government should have been focusing on dealing with the chaos being created by the CFMEU, which was largely as a result of Mr Albanese's disastrous decision to abolish the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC), they were instead allegedly trying to make deals with John Setka.
"Mr Albanese has serious questions to answer. Were other CFMEU officials offered special treatment? Were the CFMEU offered secret concessions if placed into administration? Who was the alleged intermediary negotiating between Mr Setka and former Minister Tony Burke?" Senator Cash said.
"Thanks to the Albanese Government, the CFMEU have enjoyed a free rein over Australia's construction sector, which has seen the cost of infrastructure for Australian taxpayers increase by 30%, contributing strongly to the national cost of living crisis." Senator Cash said.
"The CFMEU have given the Labor Party over $6.2 million in donations since Mr Albanese became leader. If the Australian people are to have any confidence in this Government, it is imperative that Mr Albanese comes clean on the interactions between his Government and John Setka in the days and weeks surrounding his resignation." Senator Cash said.
