Another ground-breaking investigative report from Peter Wicks shows evidence of huge unexplained payments being made to HSU “whistleblower” Kathy Jackson — as Craig Thomson’s so-called “conspiracy theories” begin to look more and more believable.

However, as we have written about over the past fortnight, with the evidence of Michael Lawler’s massive conflicts of interest, which also includes his active involvement in HSU politics on behalf of Kathy Jackson (as has now finally been reported by the ABC in the last 24 hours), Lawler’s seniority within the FWA does lead many, including us, to have deep misgivings about the even-handedness and veracity of the FWA investigation. This is magnified when we consider that it appears as if Kathy Jackson has had access to FWA computers, and used them to send HSU material, as we’ve previously reported.

These reservations are multiplied again, when one considers that when Nassios asked the HSU to provide all the financial and management records for the time period that Craig Thomson was working for the HSU — it was Kathy Jackson who personally delivered the 4 boxes of records, containing just 12 folders.

That’s right, Craig Thomson’s main accuser was the one who checked out all the records and then personally delivered them to the FWA.



Nassios says he rang the HSU but was unable to talk to Kathy Jackson as she had left the country, so he asked other staff there if there were any records that had failed to be delivered to him. The staff assured him that he had been given the records but couldn’t confirm that this was, in fact, the case. All they could say definitively was that Kathy Jackson had checked out all the records — none of them were present when she delivered the documents.

It seems that one of the reasons the FWA report took so long to complete was that Nassios was, right up until the 2nd half of last year, still trying to get the missing board minutes from the FWA. If Craig Thomson is actually telling the truth about trying to implement proper procedures, controls and standards of accounting at the HSU while being actively resisted by Kathy Jackson— then those minutes going missing would indeed be most advantageous to Jackson, as they would be the exact records that could prove this one way or the other.

From our investigations, however, it is abundantly clear that the rot in the HSU was far more extensive than just one or two corrupt individuals. And the more I look into it, the more information I uncover, and the more documents that find their way into my hands — the more I understand why HSU members are so livid. The following video is instructive as to the extent of the factional in-fighting and allegations of corruption by multiple officials at the HSU:

There are those who have pointed out to me that, according to the Murdoch press, Many of these people point out that the approximately $26,000 of questionable Union funds that we have exposed – which Craig’s accuser Kathy Jackson needs to explain – is small-fry in comparison.

Contrary to those assertions, the Australian Electoral Commission has cleared has, in fact, cleared most of the accusations about Craig’s electoral funding, which apparently made up the bulk of the $500,000. It must also be remembered, these funds were used for union advertising, as part of the anti-WorkChoices campaign — not going straight to Thomson’s bank account. There are no allegations I can find that suggest any payments had been made directly to Craig Thomson.

It appears, judging by this statement, that Jackson does not like to see unnecessary expenditure and, indeed, is willing to make personal sacrifices for the good of the members. It is commendable, yet rather odd, that after receiving this salary for years, she had only chosen to address her excessive pay now — still, better late than never, I guess.

While Kathy Jackson’s statement on 7.30 may seem honourable to some – including Tony Abbott, who called her a hero – documents that have come into my possession paint a rather different picture.

[NOTE: All documents, by the way, will be turned over to any police or official investigation upon request. We want to make clear that we have no – and never at any time had any – intention of retaining possession of these documents and will make all reasonable efforts, once our investigations are complete, to return all items to their rightful and lawful owners.]

    From the HSU Vic No. 3 Branch  minutes: Kathy Jackson’s “honorarium”

According to these documents, Kathy Jackson claimed, and was paid, $63,000 on 30 June 2010. The payment was called an “honorarium” and was, according to the HSU – Victorian Branch No. 3 minutes, simply performing her duties as the Branch Secretary and were in addition to her $270,000 annual salary. If somebody really wanted to reduce their wage by $100,000 then, to me, it would seem logical not to claim an extra $63,000 when it was not necessary she do so.

Even more seriously, the 2010 Auditors by Agostinelli and Perlen, Chartered Accountants, into the HSU – Vic No. 3 Branch has a payment that stands out alarmingly, to say the very least.

On page 18 of that report, it shows an amount described as “Key Management Personnel Compensation”. The only recipient listed is Katherine Jackson — and it is for $522,570. That’s over half a million dollars taken from some of the nation’s lowest paid workers.

ndependent Australia and I have both have received numerous anonymous tips to look into the HESTA fund and its trustee’s. Unfortunately, we have not had the time to thoroughly do so. It is, however, interesting to note that on 15 August 2007, there is a payment for Accommodation and Travel to Kathy Jackson marked ‘HESTA’ for $13,100. That’s some travel expense.

Indeed, in just two weeks, we have found payments to Kathy Jackson, and to her children’s Child Care Centre, totalling $659,063.18. Bear in mind that Kathy Jackson is not an investment banker, she is a union official representing low-paid healthy service workers.

Below is a breakdown:

    $4,860.72 – K. Koukavaos Consulting

    $36,867.46 – Neranto No. 10, for consultancy services

    $13,100 – Katherine Jackson direct, for Accommodation and travel HESTA

    $12,500 – Katherine Jackson direct, for postage and shipping. Apparently lots of shipping…

    $63,000 – Katherine Jackson direct, for an Honorarium payment

    $6,165 – Minifie Park Child Care Association, apparent staff benefits and uniforms

    $522,570 – Katherine Jackson direct – Key Management Personnel Compensation

Documentation of these payments may be accessed on our site via the links mentioned above.

In the thousands of messages we have received, there was just one that expressed concern for Jackson’s partner, Michael Lawler, Vice President of Fair Work Australia. Lawler has, as we’ve reported, been on “Long Leave” suddenly the working day before Thomson’s address to parliament and has been keeping a low profile since.


Hmmm…

The first question that should be asked is why a senior union official, who was being paid over a quarter of a million dollars per annum, plus benefits, was doing such a mundane job as being a courier?




What does her remuneration have to do with her taking paperwork to FWA?

Here is something you missed.


    CHRIS UHLMANN: Doesn’t that seem a little excessive… [discussing Kathy Jackson’s pay rise to $270,000]

    KATHY JACKSON: Yes, it does.

    CHRIS UHLMANN: … for someone who represents some of the poorest workers in Australia?

    KATHY JACKSON: I agree with you but let’s look at the history of this. As I said previously this was rammed through the council, by Michael Williamson and his people. We objected to it. The Victorians ran a case against it to the council, it was in camera.

    I wasn’t at the meeting. We were asked to leave. The New South Wales councillors rammed this proposal through.

    At mediation last week in the courts, as part of that mediation, process, I put my hand up and said that I should get at least $100,000 salary cut, and that was rejected.

Make sure you tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth smithy.

angeleyes wrote on May 30^th, 2012 at 2:39pm:


And here's something YOU missed my dear,which is actually posted above,

According to these documents, Kathy Jackson claimed, and was paid, $63,000 on 30 June 2010. The payment was called an “honorarium” and was, according to the HSU – Victorian Branch No. 3 minutes, simply performing her duties as the Branch Secretary and were in addition to her $270,000 annual salary.

Even more seriously, the 2010 Auditors by Agostinelli and Perlen, Chartered Accountants, into the HSU – Vic No. 3 Branch has a payment that stands out alarmingly, to say the very least.

If crikey are condemning Peter Wicks than



MarilynS
30 May, 2012 at 1:45 pm

Now even Crikey’s Andrew Crook who has been condemning Thomson over nothing is condemning Peter Wicks over this story while not looking back on the others that connect to this story which all prove the MSM have been spectacularly lazy and that they don’t even check their own archives.

The only thing he is right about is that the $500,000 was reported some weeks ago,

but Kathy denied it so that was OK

.