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Tonight’s episode of 4 Corners had all the anticipation of a heavyweight title fight, and for good reason.
It was viewed as a last ditch attempt by a pair of rich people living in luxury to escape the long arm of the law as it draws closer.
While the main attraction may have been the alleged Queen Of Corruption, Kathy Jackson, tonight was her partner Michael Lawler’s turn to shine.
Michael Lawler, whose involvement readers here have been aware of since 2012, is the current Vice President of Fair Work Commission (formerly FWA). Appointed to his position by Tony Abbott, the organisation he was appointed to then became notorious for the lengthy investigation into the HSU. This was the investigation into Craig Thomson, Lawler’s partner’s predecessor as Secretary of the Union, and also a crucial member of a hung parliament whom if forced out could even have made the man who appointed him Prime Minister.
Hmmm, no conflict of interest there…
As a result Craig Thomson was driven to breaking point emotionally and smeared in the press, and still remains a punch-line for allegations he was eventually found not guilty of.
I have often said these people spend their time in an alternative reality, one that I have referred to as “Jacksonville” and on occasions I have described Lawler’s alternate state as “Lawler Creek”. Now it appears to have dawned on him that he may just be up that creek without a paddle.
The remarkably healthy looking Lawler that we watched tonight has spent 9 months on fully paid sick leave. This is at the taxpayers expense and at a rate of $435,000 pa.
Tonight as the law closes in Lawler has decided to once again take the taxpayer for granted by using the taxpayer funded ABC to plead his case.
What is it with these people and sponging on the taxpayer?
The spin began even before the episode started with a teaser by 4 Corners with a voice-over claiming over a video of Lawler speaking to camera;
“This is the secret video diary of a desperate man”
This statement is in direct conflict with the facts already confirmed by 4 Corners and certainly gave an indication of what may be to come.
Image – Twitter
The word “secret” is not one I would use to describe something filmed for public consumption and then given to a current affairs programme to be aired on National TV. But that’s just me and I’m not Michael Lawler…
The arrogance of putting together a five-hour monologue in your own defense is astounding. Save it for the coppers Michael, I’m sure they have subpoenaed a copy by now at any rate, watched it, had a good laugh and filed it away as evidence.
The alternate universe the pair live in was clearly on display tonight, with lots of cringeworthy moments that no doubt had viewers dry retching across the country.
Many had expected a puff piece for this episode, as early reports in some of the media suggested that would be the case. While I’m sure Lawler and Jackson agreed to provide access to 4 Corners to film the piece in the hope it would end up a puff piece that took their side. Instead we ended up with a fly on the wall piece on a delusional, self-centred and arrogant pair of people who think they are smart enough to fool the public through the media.
In the episode Michael Lawler denies he has ever “knowingly” benefitted from the proceeds of crime, that being fraud from the HSU. However he makes that denial whilst sitting in room in the multi-million dollar house he resides in. A house purchased by his partner Kathy Jackson, in part with funds allegedly fraudulently acquired at the expense of HSU members. A house that the couple attempted to transfer into Lawler’s name to avoid Federal Court forcing its sale to pay back to the members.
Jackson at the time claimed the transfer was to repay Michael for his personal and legal support. The legal support being for when he apparently provided legal support and legal representation for what he only now realises was criminal behavior if we are to believe his “unknowingly” claim.
Lawler thinks the public will understand him taking time off to care for his partner. He is right about that, we would understand if he was doing what the rest of us would do, take holiday leave, long service leave or if necessary unpaid leave. Nobody I know of would think it was in any way moral to expect the taxpayer to foot the bill for a $435K pa salary to look after ones partner. It’s not as if his partner cured cancer or anything. If fact she allegedly defrauded cancer researchers of money owed to them while misappropriating the lowest paid union members funds of over a million dollars.
I hope Lawler will forgive us mere mortals if we are a little less than understanding.
It has also been brought to our attention that Lawler likes to record conversations without the consent of the other person. This from a member of the judiciary is something that many will find highly alarming given its highly questionable legality.
Realistically Ian Ross does not set the rules regarding leave, these would be based on Lawler’s original contract which would have been negotiated with the Howard government when he was appointed. The Howard government was also responsible for the appointment of his brother John Lawler as CEO of the Australian Crime Commission.
Whether or not he was entitled to the leave, it shows a lack of judgement and common sense at the very least to take sick leave to help your partner defend herself from criminal allegations.
As we know Michael Lawler is the subject of an independent inquiry which was announced recently by Employment Minister Michaela Cash. Today the terms of reference for that investigation were released.
I think Lawler may have a tough time ahead based on those terms.
Lawler is hoping that we will sympathise with him due to his claimed mental issues. He expects this while we listen to him berating and abusing an elderly dementia sufferer whose money he has been spending. I think he has high hopes.
Those who were expecting revelations would be disappointed, those wanting a peek into another sense of reality would have been pleased.
The big news of the night was Lawler using the term cunt-struck, and the ABC letting it run.
Alternate universe indeed.
There will be more to come on this from me another day after I have dissected the details.
In the meantime though congrats to Caro Meldrum-Hanna and the 4 Corners team on a riveting piece.
Car crash television at its finest.
He did look genuinely sick to me, IMHO he’s lost all connection with reality.
Apart from that, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Well done. Your work on this story has been incredible and forms the foundations that the mainstream media have finally addressed.
They are delusional to think anyone believed that load of “bullshit” that came out of their mouths tonight.. She has not changed one bit, ready to spin the story to suit her own greedy ends… I hope now the Avalanche of karma comes at lightening speed and crushes them…
Lawler looks like the shell left after one spider eats another.
When isn’t that call about the house payment from Lawler to the old judge not elder abuse?
so Jacson actually confirmed tonight that her lover Williamson was being remunerated by her for his professional services (billed?) while on sick leave AND…at the same time he was being paid by the taxpayer? what a great scam! go on sick leave and take up another job!
oh by the way..who actually paid for Kathy’s clearly visibly BOTOXED face?
Your work on this is laudable, to say the least. I’d like to think the MSM journos might feel a little shame-faced at their lack of insight until now, but I won’t hold out much hope.
Quite simply they treat everyone as mugs. They think they are entitled to live off the public because they have delusionally high opinions of their own intelligence. They also think the public are morons. Anything less than jail terms for both them will be a grave injustice. When Lawler addresses ‘ordinary Australians’ like he is some kind of sovereign I almost punched the tv screen. What an absolute flog.
It was brilliant, much to my surprise I wanted more. Best car crash I have seen in years.
This was like watching an episide of Arrested Development.
Lawler does an eery likeness of S.Aust Labor luminary, another knight of the legal fraternity, one Michael Atkinson – except that Lawler is not as pompous and not as weirdly right-wing.
I thought it was a great love story. It will make a great Hollywood movie… “Cuntstruck!”
I didnt think much of the journo. Questions like ‘Are you bad or mad’? and ‘Are you delusional?’.
Well what do you think they are going to say to those sorts of questions? ‘Yeah I am delusional’. Fairly poor quality stuff.
This has become positively Shakespearian as a study in human madness, greed, ambition & delusion.
Extraordinary, and you picked it perfectly.
I followed your Jacksonville stories from the start, so I may not read the book – but I can’t wait for the film!
Excellent!!!!! Cannot believe how oblivious to reality they are!!!!
I found it interesting that the show ended with Lawler sounding a lot less convinced of Jackson’s innocence than he was at the start.
Wow.
That 4 Corners episode completely confirmed it. Lawler really is a highly delusional tosser.
Wonder if there’s been Yeti’s lurking and UFOs flying around that Wombarra property……….
Brill Pete! I knew you would be all over it! The um rude reference gave me a start lol can’t believe they aired it. I hope the PM doesn’t pull the ABC up on it.
Michaelia Cash’s Terms Of Reference above –
‘consider requesting’ now need to read as ‘definitely demanding G-G to remove’.
Bravo Mr Wicks for all your previous. No doubt Caro will acknowledge you when accepting her Walkley.
The programme completely confirmed the outstanding work done by you, Peter, over many years in the Jacksonville series and it did so without mentioning your work at all!
Chris Brown of the HSU told us that he had been collecting evidence against Jackson for some time, without telling us that it all came from your investigations!
Lawler’s performance showed that you don’t have to be intelligent to be a leading barrister. He skilfully managed to break the law and prove his boss to be loose with the truth in the one episode of recording a conversation without the knowledge of his interlocutor.
All up, Lawler and Jackson did all they could to confirm the truth of Thomson’s speech to Parliament in 2012 and of your findings, Peter, all without mentioning either of you.
It is time for you to be acknowledged by the very recalcitrant “Sydney Morning Herald” and for that paper to explain its aceptnce of Jackson’s allegations without checking them – including a copy of a credit card statement with the claimed owner’s signature spelled incorrectly!
I hope Justice Dyson Haydon and Prosecutor Stoljar took note and reminded themdelves about rhe due processes of the law.
Full blown narcissists both. Throw away the key
Congratulations Peter on all your hard work. This should get a Walkley but it won’t be you receiving it. Kate McClymont is looking very smelly
That was one of the strangest episodes of 4 Corners I have ever seen.
Some sort of elaborate Grand Conspiracy at work? Really?
I was initially disappointed that so much of the detail about Jackson had been overlooked but was well compensated by seeing the deranged Lawler at work, complete with secret recordings and a video diary.
I missed any reference to the timing of the “sick leave cap” conversation but I suspect that it wasn’t made near the end of the 9 months period.
I wonder if anybody has recordings of Lawler conversations ready for public broadcast?
No doubt members of the Government will now be rushing to their defence.
He seems the type that will take others down with him when he eventually goes.
This will be an interesting chapter in the Jacksonville book.
The programme was the first televised detective story i have seen in which the true hero, the person who meticulously collected all of the incriminating evidence, was not even mentioned, let alone acknowledged. This must be a new Australian genre.
Apparently Lawler pushed Jackson to blow the whistle. Who pushed him? Inconceivable this waster would do anything in the wider interest off his own bat. Whomever it was deserves a medal and a citation from Mr Machiavelli.The perfect dupes. Easily manipulated narcissistic egomaniacs with a just critical mass of brain cells to do the bidding of others in the short term but too stupid, delusional and arrogant to anticipate the consequences. Most likely thought the ‘establishment’ would take care of matters. Although not their aim, a useful service has been performed by this pair – thanks for that.
“..positively Shakespearian as a study in human madness, greed, ambition & delusion.” – “It will make a great Hollywood movie… “Cuntstruck!” I am thinking for this modern day adaption of Shakespeare’s “Cuntstruck!” it should be directed by Polanski rather than Baz Luhrmann although the decadent flagrant corruption does suggest maybe a collaboration btween them. Peter Wicks you are one of Australia’s greatest bravest journalists, thanks for your dedication, endurance and professionalism under such enormous personal and financial risk.
Best Monday night comedy of the year ..
Lawler always claimed that only 1% of Australians are intelligent and that he was in that 1%…??? Obviously he has a different definition of intelligent to me!
I wonder if the balcony in the city shown was at the Fair Work building where his son’s birthday party was held?
“puffytmd” got it right. Sucked dry. I even thought I saw the marks on him where the strings were attached.
I was just stunned… Stunned!! Delusional is the right word Peter. How did they think this would help their cause. Apart from the shameful berating of Peter Roffe in that recording I was most stunned by lawlers thought that other Australians would support his sick leave so he could prepare Jackson’s defence.. Absolutely dumbstruck!
Kathy Jacksons nee name in Greek means ‘owl’, bird of wisdom, a trait that Kathy clearly does not possess or maybe she does?
I felt incredulous and very angry while watching the ‘Four Corners’ program, showing these two scheming infidels make a vile mess of a Union, one that represents the staff of Australia’s health system, the men and women who are the very epitome of our society.
These revolting characters must be jailed for a minimum of five years, like Williamson, and to deter others from abusing workers rights.
p.s. A Royal Commission on Tony Abbott needs to take place, but then again, that might cost a bit too much.
Kudos to you Wixxy for all your hard work. Hope you get some acknowledgement.
The bus has arrived and Kathy threw Jeff straight under it. Williamson did not employ the services of Jeff Jackson in 2009 as was Kathy’s explanation this time, her previously explanation differed in the Commission. Jeff’s take on the $50k was black and white, it was part of the divorce settlement.
Watching Jackson and Lawler could have (should have) been a parody – sadly they were serious. A favourite has to be the chux cloth brow mop of her beloved………oh and that she is referred to in MSM as his middle aged lover.
I wonder if this was what they expected – I think not.
During the Four Corners progam, Kathy Jackson said or implied that had the Federal Court heard her evidence, had she been given a fair hearing, she most likely would not have been found guilty. She also said or implied that the HSU Branch Committee of Management (BCOM) minutes that had somehow (and mysteriously) gone missing, and these would have exonerated her and would have indicated she has received BCOM approval to make the expenditures she made.
To quote Michael Lawler, “bullshit!” Jackson voluntarily decided not to appear in the Federal Court in person to defend herself and lay out her evidence. The woman cannot now complain that she did not receive a fair hearing.
And if one reads the judgement of Federal Court Judge Richard Tracey, His Honour makes it quite clear that even had the missing BCOM Minutes been available, and even had they shown what Jackson has claimed they would show, the judgement would not have been different. The BCOM can only approve expenditure that benefits the Union itself. It cannot approve expenditure that primarily benefits an individual who wishes to maintain a lavish lifestyle on the Union dollar. Jackson’s expenditure did not benefit the Union.
Jackson and Lawler are a disgrace to Aiustralia.
The performance of Lawler was bizarre; coupled with his admitting to making secret recordings I had to scratch my head and ask “whats going on with this guy?” Others here have drawn the conclusion that he and Cathy are living in a narcissistic bubble; not an unreasonable conclusion. I would like to float another idea though.
The fraud that this pair have been up to has been so brazen that you have to wonder how they thought they could get away with it. I believe they thought they were protected by the senior LNP players who they worked with while attempting to have Craig Thompson charged. This promise of protection is what kept them going and filling their boots with whatever they could grab. The plan was to then exit stage right and be set for life. This has now come unstuck though; no small thanks to Wicksy for that, but with the departure of Abbott and Abetz from being able to pull strings for them they are nude of visible life vests. My thoughts are; that of the 60 or so recordings Lawler made there may be some pretty damming ones with perhaps Abbott, Abetz, Pyne, Brandis et al, and Lawler was making a very public signal to them they had better do something quick. If they look like losing the houses and doing time in chokey Lawler may pull the pin on grenade he is holding. Its a delicious thought that it could happen but I cannot imagine Malcolm standing by and letting brand LNP be so trashed. Brandis may yet be able to step in and ensure no convictions can be secured against them.
ABC Children’s TV is doing a PG13 version of this program, called “Grubstruck.”
Maybe the hidden text in the flagrant showing of Lawler taping his conversations with his fair Work Australia boss were a veiled threat to Abbott and Abetz and Pyne etc and perhaps some media people that he may have some interesting recordings of them up his sleeve. Nothing else makes sense. Funny how subdued the reaction of the mainsteam media was on this issue today? remember the huge confected fuss over the Wacky Zacky show or the tonyabbotteatsshit hash tag. Murdoch’s little robot Internet midgets were not switched on to push this issue to the top of the google ranking.
Test your knowledge – how well to you know the key characters in the Jacksonsville disgrace?
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/photos-e6frg8zf-1227575732886
Already burnt McClymont is surprisingly now not offering an opinion, but appears to be gleefully reporting Lawler’s “police complaint” against you Wixxy and The Australian journalists who also had the guts and determination to report the truth.
http://www.smh.com.au/national/fair-work-commissioner-michael-lawler-wants-journalists-prosecuted-20151020-gkdzry.html
It appears this complaint has bounced between the police and the ACMA.
Hopefully this complaint goes nowhere and Lawler gets told to go jump for wasting police time.
OMG
I think that Brenton and Dave are on the money.
Interesting to watch the events as they happen, i.e. what proverbial chess pieces will Turnbull and Brandis move next?
I’m a bit puzzled over the broadcasting of those recorded phone calls.
It may be true that it’s not technically illegal to record those conversations but it’s my understanding that before they can be publicly broadcast, certain permissions must be obtained.
It can be argued that their broadcast makes them a “performance” and therefore subject to copyright restrictions and potential damage claims by Lawler’s boss.
Wouldn’t that be ironic?
Otherwise I thought it was smart of the ABC to just turn them loose to dig their own holes into their credibility.
A pity they didn’t do this when it mattered the most.
I’ve found myself dwelling on the performances of Jackson and Lawler more than I would like. There was something bizarre about both of them, and perhaps with nothing but mutual reinforcing of their victimhood they really believe at least some of what they say. And certainly with friends and string-pullers all the way up to the PM, they may well have thought they were invincible. But wherever the truth lies, Lawler can surely never work again as a judge or lawyer. He’s admitted to being disloyal, devious and dishonest (phone recordings and misuse of sick leave) – just what did he know and what was he preparing for? And he said things not in his or Jackson’s best interest, really odd! I can’t imagine that any lawyer acting on Lawler’s behalf would have condoned anything he said, let alone inviting Four Corners to do a program on the affair. And there was something decidedly odd, even sinister, in his presentation. Clearly he can’t return to his job. Just who starts the process for his removal, and how soon, will be very interesting to see.
Not fit to be practice LAW ever AGAIN
Speaking of ‘delusions” when is Peter Wicks going to challenge David Donovan over his promotion of the “Satanist VIP paedophile ring” : or is Wicks going to claim that he had not read the articles or was too busy as he claimed a year ago when I challenged him?
Donovan’s publishing of these claims have now entered the mainstream media with the vile Bill Heffernan and Independent Australia has aided this. You have aided also Wicks by your cowardice and what looks like timidity in challenging the ramblings of a woman who is clearly ill but being used by Donovan & Heffernan for their own nefarious reasons’
These claims are now spreading on the internet. The children, the grandchildren of Gough Whitlam , Kim Beazly Snr and Dr Anthony Kidman must now read these faslehoods that will remain for all time – and aiding that is the fact you, goats like Bob Ellis and Alan Austin prefer a platform at Independent Australia. The family of the Tory Leon Brittan have been devastated over similar claims & even though he has been declared innocent- the accusations remain for all time.
You helped that Wicks. I challenged you a year ago and you chose to ignore.
I still haven’t read it mate, and I’m not in a rush to…
I do note however that every media outlet is reporting on the case now as it’s being heard at the Royal Commission. I guess that leaves nowhere for anybody to write using your logic
wow what a cop out Wixxy. No it’s not being heard at the Royal Commission- pity you don’t even read the reports despite the lunacies contained within. The police have rejected the claims and a statement was given to the Royal Commission just as anyone can and they are not investigating them and they are not sub-judice but they are defamatory.
There is a very big difference in the way the media recently covered them and the way Donovan actively endorsed them with his bizarre claims that because the claimant signed stat decs so that implied truth. IA gave the credence- the only other websites that have run them are the conspiracy nutcases sites but that is how the Brittan claims began in the UK
The fact you have written about how Craig Thompson’s life has been ripped apart by tabloids really shows you to be a hypocrite – the families of Beazley Snr, Hawke, Whitlam, McMahon, the Kidmans now must see for decades to come that their relatives are being accused of horrendous crimes. My “logic” is that are you going to stand up for the reputations of these honorable men? Are you going to challenge Donovan and ask why he promoted unproved horrible claims against dead men who cannot talk.
As for now claiming you haven’t read the articles on IA, it just isn’t credible given your reply that the same claims are in other media.
I haven’t read it, I’m basing what i lnow on your ramblings and what I’ve been told
As for you saying what I say isn’t credible, I work, I write, and between times I try and research, follow politics and have some semblance of a life.
Why would I want to read/research something someone else is writing about? That would be a waste of the little time I have
These people have enough of a voice and don’t need my help
I suggest you let them deal with it and stop making a dick of yourself and don’t try and brand me a liar
Sam,
You raise an important issue.
You might have been able to predict that the host of this site is not going to offer an explicit opinion on the articles supplied to IA by the woman in question. It is understandable that Mr.Wicks sees David Donovan as a colleague, and perhaps partner in research on some issues; and he is not going to take up your invitation to have a public disagreement with him on this matter.
I assume you have taken this matter up with Donovan – and I have to assume that his response has been uncooperative. I assume you are still persisting with this matter with Donovan; and I think that might be more productive in the long run.
I find it fitting that the very strange Heffernan, someone so manifestly unfit for public office, is the one to raise these claims in Parliament.