Further charges laid against former Victorian CFMEU boss John Setka

Detectives have laid further charges against former Victorian CFMEU boss John Setka, as part of an investigation into allegedly threatening and harassing emails sent to CFMEU administrators.

The 61-year-old was arrested in Footscray this morning.

He has been charged with using a telecommunications device to menace, using a telecommunications device to offend and two charges of committing an indictable offence while on bail.

Police allege the harassing comments were made online on Monday.

This is the third time Setka has been charged with offences of this nature.

He was first charged in November of last year over allegedly threatening and harassing emails sent to a union administrator and was further charged in February of this year.

Police also allege additional threats were made and an intervention order was made on July 19.

The investigation by Taskforce Hawk, which was set up in July 2024, is probing alleged criminal behaviour within the construction industry, focused on people employed in the industry with links to bikie gangs.

Setka resigned as the CFMEU’s Victorian boss in 2024 after media reports uncovered alleged criminal infiltration of the union.

The union’s construction and general divisions were placed under administration by the federal government in 2024 in response to the allegations.