Claims extracted
22
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
23%
5 of 22 hedged
("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
withheld
no quote in the article backed the model's score
Publisher signals
61/100
The Sydney Morning Herald's corrections and
hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
1
Politics
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Disgraced ex-CFMEU leader John Setka has been expelled from the union he transformed into one of the most powerful and controversial industrial and political forces in the nation.
asserted
he → expel → nation
The union administration’s decision to rip up Setka’s last remaining formal tie to the CFMEU — his union ticket — comes as Victoria’s Kourakis royal commission unearths extraordinary witness testimony about the conduct of the union and the state Labor government on the $109 billion Big Build infrastructure scheme.
asserted
commission → rip → scheme
In announcing Setka’s expulsion, union administrator Michael Crosby said Setka was expelled after facing 27 disciplinary charges under the union’s disciplinary process, including allegations he misappropriated more than $3 million in union funds.
asserted
he → announce → funds
“John Setka held a position of responsibility but abused that privilege to take millions of dollars from the members of the CFMEU,” Crosby said.
asserted
Crosby → hold → CFMEU
He has failed in the most basic duties of a union official – to put members’ interests above all.
asserted
He → fail → all
In September, The Age revealed that Setka was refusing to cede control of more than $1 million held in a private political slush fund that has earned millions of dollars, including via a deal struck with Coca-Cola to take a cut of the sale of soft drinks on building sites.
asserted
that → reveal → sites
Leaked correspondence showed that Setka had been sent demands from Crosby to hand back to the union control of a multimillion-dollar slush fund that “could have been – and should have been – income earned by the CFMEU for the benefit of its members”.
uncertain
that → show → members
Crosby’s ongoing forensic inquiries have determined the Setka-controlled slush fund had received “over $400,000” from Coca-Cola Amatil, as the fund earned more than $3 million from building site vending machine deals and the sale of CFMEU merchandise.
asserted
fund → determine → merchandise
Setka has previously told this masthead the vending machine arrangement had been struck long before he became secretary of the union and denied any wrongdoing.
asserted
he → tell → wrongdoing
In a separate development, Setka and several other former ex-CFMEU lieutenants are also facing civil prosecution for their suspected misuse of $329,000 in members’ money to entrench the power of the allegedly corrupt former boss of the Health Workers Union and ALP powerbroker Diana Asmar.
uncertain
Setka → face → Union
In a statement released on Wednesday, Crosby said that Setka “had failed in his duty as secretary of the union and diverted $3.3 million in revenue from union merchandise and site vending machines to his companies”.
asserted
Setka → release → companies
Crosby also vowed to pursue Setka for the misappropriated funds after the former union boss ignored requests from Crosby’s administration to respond to claims he had no legal right to hold hostage funds belonging to union members.
uncertain
he → vow → members
Setka’s expulsion completes an extraordinary fall from power for a man who once wielded significant influence over the Victorian Labor Party and who continues to have allies in select union and political circles.
asserted
who → complete → circles
While Setka’s 12-year leadership of the CFMEU involved record pay and conditions being delivered to construction workers, it also coincided with the union’s descent into allegedly improper relationships with gangland figures, bikie gang clubs and building company bosses suspected of exploiting workers.
uncertain
it → involve → workers
From 2020, Setka’s union wielded increasing power over the Big Build, gaining near complete industrial control over government projects by 2024.
asserted
union → wield → 2024
By then, the union had – according to revelations first unearthed by The Age and Sydney Morning Herald and now being explored in detail by the Kourakis royal commission – allowed certain gangland figures and companies aligned with select CFMEU bosses to allegedly profit at the expense of Victorian taxpayers.
uncertain
figures → accord → taxpayers
One of those gangland figures named during Wednesday’s commission hearing, Mick Gatto, was Setka’s close friend.
asserted
One → name → hearing
In July 2024, this masthead published private and highly revealing text messages between Gatto and Setka.
asserted
masthead → publish → Gatto
The leaked texts cast fresh light on the closeness of the pair’s bond, with Gatto telling Setka “I love ya” and each man describing the other as “brother”.
asserted
man → leak → brother
“Thanks John for publicly defending our friendship,” Gatto also texted.
asserted
Gatto → defend → friendship
“I do love ya.
asserted
I → love → ya
Without you the union is gone.”
asserted
union → go → you
The Aporia
