Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and frontbencher Anthony Albanese have both slammed Setka's comments. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen "But bad laws get changed at elections, bad laws get changed at the ballot box." In the speech to an estimated 20,000 protesters on Tuesday, Mr Setka said Australian Building and Construction Commission inspectors should tread carefully, and threatened to expose and publicly shame "the f..kers" by lobbying their neighbours, local shopping centres and football clubs. "They will not be able to show their faces anywhere. Their kids will be ashamed of who their parents are when we expose all these ABCC inspectors," he said. "If they think they are going to walk around and desecrate construction workers, take away our rights, and then ride off into the sunset, and there's going to be no consequences, well, they're in for a big surprise."

He also took aim at the Australian Federal Police, labelling them "Turnbull's henchmen" and a "political police force". Victorian Trades Hall Council secretary Luke Hilakari read out a letter of support from Bill Shorten during the rally, in which the opposition leader wrote "it's time to stand up and fight back". Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese joined the fray on Wednesday, calling Mr Setka's speech "completely unacceptable" and backing the police referral. "The comments are offensive. I completely repudiate them," Mr Albanese said on Adelaide radio station 5AA. "I think the idea people should be targeted is completely reprehensible. It's been reported to the police and that's appropriate." Mr Albanese said he was particularly shocked that Mr Setka would drag people's kids into the debate. However he said there were many good people in the CFMEU who were welcome to be part of the Labor Party.

It is not the first time Mr Shorten has been forced to denounce the powerful and controversial Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union boss. During last year's election campaign Mr Shorten labelled him "stupid" for comparing the government's building code to the excesses of Nazi Germany. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters on Wednesday it was not "appropriate" to bring people's families into a "highly charged and emotional debate" about workers' safety. "I think that if we were having to knock on doors and tell loved ones that their husband or wife or their family member wasn't going to be coming home from work today because there had been an accident, maybe we'd have a different perspective on these things," he said. "That debate is a fair and proper one to have, but let's not drag people's families into it." Mr Andrews would not give his view on the ABCC, merely saying the government had full confidence in police to respond to criminal activity.

"That is a matter entirely for the federal government. They've passed through their parliament a set of laws and they can defend or sell or justify or explain to you why those things are necessary," he said. A furious Employment Minister Michaelia Cash said she would refer the threats to police to protect government staff. "The CFMEU's thuggery and intimidation show why our building industry reforms are so important," she said. "Bill Shorten and Labor must stop taking donations and sever ties from these thugs." Loading Fairfax Media has contacted Mr Setka for comment.