Slater and Gordon and the CFMEU appear to be very close.

Here's Emma Walters:

And here is a report published in the Herald Sun last night - the CFMEU will be under the Royal Commission's microscope from Monday morning in Melbourne.

Labor plays politics on deal for CFMEU boss John Setka’s partner Emma Walters

LABOR insiders say the partner of CFMEU boss John Setka is still on track for a seat in State Parliament.

Late last year Emma Walters, a lawyer and former CFMEU organiser, backed away from a Socialist-Left faction plan that she contest the Lower House seat of Werribee.

Her decision came after the Herald Sun revealed the move would be fought by Labor’s Right faction.

Ms Walters later decided not to run for a seat in the Upper House at November’s state election, a decision she is understood to have reached on her own.

But Labor sources say the Socialist-Left faction, which includes the CFMEU, is eager to find Ms Walters a seat.

Speculation on where Ms Walters might stand has been tied to the future of Labor’s higher education spokesman, Steve Herbert, who is vacating the Lower House seat of Eltham for a slot in the Legislative Council at this year’s election.

The widespread belief among sources is that if

the ALP loses this year, Mr Herbert will retire midterm to be replaced by Ms Walters, without the need for a by-election.

But Labor figures say the plan is unlikely to come to fruition if Labor wins.

“It will be much harder to find a place for her if she we are in government,” a source said. “He (Mr Herbert) will be a minister — why would he want to leave?”