Copyright theage
The Albanese government’s union reform boss is fighting a brazen move by former CFMEU bosses John Setka and Ralph Edwards to seize control of a $1 million election slush fund as part of a suspected plot to wrest back control of the powerful union once it exits administration. Corporate filings reveal Edwards, a retired CFMEU national president, moved the official office of the Building Industry 2000 fund from union and administration headquarters to his home address in Coburg in April. The fund has been identified in previous royal commissions as a “slush” account used by the union’s former ruling regime to fund their candidates seeking election as CFMEU bosses, or in local government, state and federal elections. Edwards shifted the Building Industry 2000’s “principal place of business” to his home address nine months after the appointment of CFMEU administrator Mark Irving, KC. The move highlights the ongoing struggle facing the Albanese government in bringing the union, and all of its assets, under control.
