John Setka

John Setka
Formerly Victorian-Tasmanian Secretary of the CFMEU C&G division
In office
2012  12 July 2024
Personal details
BornMelbourne, Australia
OccupationUnemployed
Known forFormer Leader of the CFMEU Victorian-Tasmanian Branch C&G division

John Setka (born September 1964) is a former Australian trade unionist.

Until 12 July 2024, he was the secretary of the Victorian-Tasmanian division of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, and Energy Union for 12 years. The Victorian-Tasmanian division administers the South Australian division under a temporary arrangement.

He is a controversial figure in the Australian trade union movement. He is known for his strong support at a grassroots level, especially among the rank and file of the CFMEU. His supporters regard him as a strong advocate against political, legal, and industrial opponents; the national secretary of the union, Christy Cain has called him one of the "most fair dinkum union people in this country".

On the other hand, the Courts have upheld the description of him as a thug, while Setka's political opponents have derided him as a bully, and criticized his purported stance that it can be necessary to break the law to pursue union interests. He has also faced strong criticism for alleged public remarks on the topic of domestic violence, and a guilty plea for harassing his ex-wife via text, issues that contributed to his formal expulsion from the Australian Labor Party in 2019.

In recent years Setka's personal life has been the subject of considerable media attention. His marital breakdown, and associated legal issues, have led to additional public criticism.