CFMEU bosses across nation may face criminal charges
Date August 25, 2015 - 1:47AM. The Age.
Nick McKenzie, Ewin Hannan, Richard Baker, Nick Toscano
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Police witnesses have been advised by detectives that a criminal brief against John Setka has been completed.
Police in three states are investigating the most senior leaders of the CFMEU for allegations ranging from receiving secret commissions to blackmail as a result of evidence gathered by investigators working alongside the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption.
A Fairfax Media investigation can reveal the CFMEU's national president and Labor factional boss Dave Hanna has quit the union as a major criminal investigation examines allegations that he took secret commissions.
Hanna, who until his resignation this month was also the CFMEU's Queensland president and was previously a state ALP vice-president, is the subject of a joint state and federal police inquiry into allegations concerning kickbacks and the operations of a ue most senior bosses of the CFMEU's construction division are also facing serious criminal allegations of blackmail.
A Victoria Police taskforce, Heracles, has recently taken witness statements from multiple construction industry figures as detectives attempt to charge Victorian CFMEU secretary John Setka and his deputy, Shaun Reardon, with blackmail in connection to the union's campaign against concrete firm Boral.
Police witnesses have been advised by detectives that a criminal brief against Mr Setka and Mr Reardon has been completed and that police are waiting to receive legal advice before laying charges.
The CFMEU's NSW secretary Brian Parker is also being investigated by police after phone taps were recently aired at the union royal commission, which revealed his close relationship with organised crime figure, and allegedly crooked labour hire firm boss, George Alex.
The police investigations are now effectively targeting the CFMEU's most powerful figures across three states and, if they result in charges and convictions, could be fatal to the union's hope of avoiding being deregistered or placed into administration.
News of the police probes initiated by the royal commission comes as the ALP and union movement continues its campaign targeting the commission on the basis that it is a politically biased witch-hunt.
Royal commissioner, Dyson Heydon, on Monday delayed his ruling on an "apprehended bias" application by unions, which was lodged after it was revealed he had accepted an invitation to speak at a NSW Liberal Party fundraiser.
Mr Heydon cancelled his attendance at the fundraiser and recently said he had overlooked its Liberal links when agreeing to deliver a speech about legal issues.
In a statement to Fairfax Media, Mr Hanna said he had taken "no benefits" and was involved in "no mismanagement" of any union fund. He claims to have stepped down from the union due to health reasons arising from a motorcycle accident.
Sources in the Queensland construction industry have confirmed police working with the royal commission have been questioning builders about the activities of a former senior operations manager from developer Mirvac.
The manager, Adam Moore, resigned from Mirvac in 2013 after an internal investigation into allegations he was running an "off-the-books" business using Mirvac subcontractors without the permission or knowledge of his bosses.
Mr Moore, who did not respond to efforts to contact him, is being investigated for supplying these subcontractors to union and industry figures.
Sources said Mr Hanna was told to go on "gardening leave" after an internal complaint was made about his alleged conduct. Union sources said questions had been raised about the existence of a union fund linked to Mr Hanna's time at the Builders Labourers Federation, which has merged with the CFMEU in Queensland.
Hanna on 'annual leave'
It is believed the CFMEU's national executive recently discussed the complaint against Mr Hanna and resolved to appoint a person to conduct an investigation. Mr Hanna subsequently resigned from the union in August.
Asked by Fairfax last month whether he had been stood down, Mr Hanna said he was on "annual leave".
"Due to ongoing health issues I received in a severe motor bike accident last November, I have decided to resign all positions held within the union to concentrate on recovering [and] more family time after spending too much time away from them," he said in a text message.
"I've worked with many loyal, dedicated people over the last 30 years [and] my faith [and] support remains strong as always in the union movement [and] workers rights. I'm looking forward to new beginnings [and] a healthier future with my family."
Police in Victoria and Queensland declined to comment on the various police probes, while a spokesman for the royal commission said "in line with our standard procedure, the commission does not comment on operational matters".
Victoria Police said they "will not comment on active investigations unless there is an operational need to do so".
CFMEU sources in Victoria said police investigating Mr Setka and Mr Reardon for blackmail had not contacted the pair and said the timing of the revelations about the police's criminal inquiry was "laughable" given the media focus on Commissioner Heydon's apprehended bias assessment.
A former CFMEU organiser and a serving CFMEU official in Canberra have also recently been charged by police in connection to evidence uncovered by detectives attached to the royal commission, as has another CFMEU official in Brisbane.
CFMEU bosses to face criminal charges
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