Earlier this year, The Age reported that police were called to a property in Melbourne's western suburbs on Boxing Day last year following reports of an argument allegedly involving Mr Setka, 54.

Following a court appearance last month, Mr Setka told reporters waiting outside that he wanted to discuss the case but had been advised not to.

When the allegations first emerged earlier this year Mr Setka also issued a statement on social media.

"For well over 30 years now I have dedicated my life to the health and wellbeing of construction workers and their families, and on more occasions than I care to remember, my passion and bluntness has landed me in the headlines and not always for the right reasons," he said in the statement last month.

"Over the last three years my wife Emma and my children David, Kate and Johnny have suffered immensely from the ongoing political and ideological attacks on myself as a union leader, with the possibility of losing their husband and father to a prison sentence.