Axed CFMEU official Derek Christopher charged over road rage attack

A former CFMEU senior official suspected of corruption has been charged over an alleged road rage attack on a stranger earlier this year.

On Thursday, police charged Derek Christopher, the union’s former Victorian assistant secretary and a John Setka ally, with assaulting a 37-year-old man in an Essendon school car park on September 6.

The victim was driving through the car park and passed Christopher, who was standing with a woman and child. Police allege that after the victim parked his car, he was confronted and assaulted by Christopher, sustaining minor injuries to his face.

Christopher, of Craigieburn, was interviewed by Taskforce Hawk detectives and charged with recklessly causing injury and common law assault, a police spokesperson said.

Taskforce Hawk was established by Victoria Police to target criminal behaviour in the construction industry after an investigation by this masthead exposed the infiltration of the union by organised crime figures.

Christopher was bailed and will face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on June 26 next year. Police said the two men were not known to each other.

“Detectives are also appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident, and who may have dash-cam or mobile phone footage, to come forward and speak to police,” a police spokesperson said.

Christopher was sacked from the union in 2024 after this masthead revealed the influx of bikies and gangland bosses into the industry. The union’s government-appointed administrator, Mark Irving, KC, axed Christopher last year when he pushed out nearly 300 of the CFMEU’s leaders.

He was once next in line to lead the union’s Victoria branch, but corporate records reveal that since being sacked, Christopher started Atlas Consulting and Mediation in late May.