The administrator appointed to run the CFMEU’s construction division says threats he attributes to former union boss John Setka should be “taken seriously”, in some of the most direct public comments yet from inside the union’s federal intervention. Michael Crosby has also cast doubt on a statement made by former Victorian premier Jacinta Allan and questioned whether another royal commission would achieve anything the union’s administration has not already uncovered.
Who is Michael Crosby, and why is he running the union? #
Mr Crosby was installed as one of the administrators overseeing the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union’s construction and general division after the federal government moved to place the division into administration in mid-2024, following media reporting that alleged links between sections of the union, organised crime figures and outlaw motorcycle gangs on Victorian building sites. The administration was designed to strip out officials and structures the government said had allowed alleged standover conduct, alleged bribery and alleged intimidation to flourish on major projects, including some of Victoria’s Big Build infrastructure sites.
Mr Setka, the union’s former Victorian secretary, stood down from his position before the administration began. He has not been charged over the matters raised in the administration process, and VCN makes no suggestion he has committed any offence. Any reference in this article to threats or alleged conduct attributed to Mr Setka reflects statements made publicly by Mr Crosby, not a finding by any court.
What has Mr Crosby actually said? #
In comments reported this week, Mr Crosby said threats he associated with Mr Setka should be “taken seriously”, without detailing the precise nature of those threats or confirming whether they had been referred to police. VCN has not independently verified the content or context of any alleged threats, and no charges relating to such claims have been made public.
Victoria Police has not issued a statement confirming any investigation connected to these specific comments. Where an official police statement is issued, VCN will update this reporting accordingly. Readers should treat any claim about the nature or seriousness of alleged threats as Mr Crosby’s characterisation, not an established fact.
The Jacinta Allan statement in question #
Mr Crosby also said he held doubts about a statement previously made by Ms Allan, who served as Victorian premier before Labor’s leadership changed hands. The precise statement in dispute relates to public assurances given by the former premier’s government about the extent of union influence on Victorian government construction projects and the effectiveness of measures taken to address it.
VCN has not seen the full text of the statement Mr Crosby is disputing, nor any formal response from Ms Allan’s office. Because this is a dispute between a public official’s past statement and an administrator’s public commentary, rather than a matter before a court, ordinary defamation caution still applies: we report Mr Crosby’s comments as his own assertions, attributed to him, and do not present them as established fact.
Why does Crosby doubt a royal commission would help? #
Calls for a royal commission into union conduct on Victorian construction sites have circulated since before the administration began, with some industry figures and opposition politicians arguing a formal inquiry with coercive powers is needed to get to the bottom of alleged misconduct. Mr Crosby has reportedly questioned the value of such an inquiry, suggesting the administration process already underway is uncovering the same issues a royal commission would examine, without the delay and cost associated with a formal commission.
This is a policy and process argument, not a legal one. There is nothing in the public record to suggest a royal commission has been established or is imminent, and any decision to do so would rest with government, not with the CFMEU administrator. We note Mr Crosby’s comments reflect his own view of the administration’s effectiveness; they are not a government announcement.
What this means for Victoria’s Big Build #
The CFMEU’s construction division has significant industrial reach across Victoria’s major transport and infrastructure projects, from level crossing removals to the Metro Tunnel and West Gate Tunnel works. The 2024 administration was billed by the federal government as necessary to restore confidence that these projects were being delivered without alleged standover tactics, alleged corrupt payments or alleged intimidation of workers and subcontractors influencing who gets work and on what terms.
For readers following Big Build governance, the practical question raised by this week’s comments is less about any individual dispute and more about whether the administration is achieving its stated purpose — cleaning up governance on major public projects — and whether existing oversight mechanisms, including the administration itself, IBAC, and Victoria Police, are sufficient without a dedicated royal commission. Mr Crosby’s comments suggest he believes they are; others, including some industry and political figures who have called for a royal commission, clearly disagree.
What happens next #
The administration of the CFMEU’s construction division remains ongoing, with periodic public reporting on its progress required under the arrangements that established it. Any allegations of criminal conduct arising from the administration process, including anything related to alleged threats, would ordinarily be referred to Victoria Police or other relevant authorities for investigation, rather than resolved through public commentary.
VCN has sought comment from Victoria Police on whether any threats connected to the union administration have been reported or are under investigation, and from representatives who have previously spoken on Mr Setka’s behalf. We will update this report if further statements are provided. No person has been charged in relation to the matters described in this article, and nothing in this report should be read as suggesting otherwise.
Our approach to this story #
Because this story involves competing public statements from a union administrator, a former premier’s prior comments, and an individual who has not been charged with any offence connected to these claims, we have deliberately confined our reporting to what has been said publicly and attributed each claim to its source. Where we could not verify a claim independently, we have said so. This is consistent with our standard approach to reporting on Victoria’s Big Build governance and union oversight matters, an area chief courts and governance reporter Eliza Hartman continues to follow closely.
Background on the broader administration, including the initial 2024 intervention and subsequent findings, is available in VCN’s ongoing Big Build Watch coverage. Any person named in future reporting on this matter, including Mr Setka, is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law should any charges arise.
Readers seeking support or information related to workplace intimidation, harassment or safety concerns on construction sites can contact WorkSafe Victoria or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Anyone affected by threats or feeling unsafe should contact Victoria Police on 000 in an emergency, or 131 444 for non-urgent matters.
