Federal police swoop on former CFMEU powerbroker's home
A former CFMEU powerbroker's home has been raided as part of a widening corruption probe into a state's building industry.
Australian Federal Police officers on Wednesday searched ex-union heavyweight John Perkovic's Keilor property, in Melbourne's north, while accompanied by a sniffer dog.
The AFP confirmed search warrants were executed as part of an investigation into alleged corruption in Victoria's construction sector.
"The AFP is executing search warrants in the Melbourne suburb of Keilor," it said in a brief statement.
"The search warrants are part of the AFP's response to allegations of corruption in the Victorian building industry.
Detectives searched the home, including the backyard and vehicles parked in the driveway.
Police did not detail any specific allegations against Mr Perkovic and no charges have been laid.
Mr Perkovic, a long-time organiser in the Victorian branch of the CFMEU, has been under scrutiny after a series of allegations were aired in corruption hearings examining the union's internal dealings and its influence on the building sector.
He worked for more than a decade in the union's Victorian arm when it was led by John Setka.
Setka quit as head of the Victorian CFMEU in 2024 following allegations major Victorian and NSW construction projects had been infiltrated by underworld figures and bikies - allegations he denies.
He has since been charged with allegedly making threatening and harassing comments online about the union's administrators.
After the union was placed under administration in 2024, Mr Perkovic was elevated to a senior leadership role in the union hierarchy.
His position unravelled in October 2025 when allegations of corruption involving his personal finances and property dealings were publicly revealed.
A report by anti-corruption barrister Geoffrey Watson said worksites became drug distribution hubs, killers were handed high-paying jobs and strippers performed for night crews after organised crime infiltrated the union.
5News aggregated this summary from the outlet’s public feed. The full article, with all the context, is on www.perthnow.com.au — the content belongs to PerthNow.
