The CFMEU secretly funneled $329K from member funds to support a union official’s re-election, breaching financial rules.

The Fair Work Commission found the CFMEU secretly gave over $329,000 in member funds to Diana Asmar, former HWU secretary, to support her 2022 re-election campaign, with former officers including John Setka likely hiding the payments and breaking financial rules. One $34,100 payment went to a company under investigation linked to Asmar, who stepped down in May 2025 and faces civil action over alleged misuse of $2.7 million in union funds. The commission is pursuing legal action against involved CFMEU officers and requires the union to fix ongoing financial management failures. The investigation into alleged "ghost payments" continues.