After the desperate measure of a legal sex bomb was defused and rejected by Commissioner Heydon it was finally time to continue along the path the Royal Commission was set up to take.
As my article yesterday indicated, with so much of what the HSU National Office sought to cross-examine Kathy Jackson on temporarily suppressed it was always going to be slim pickings on what was left to cross-examine her on, however there was still plenty of interesting details that emerged from todays proceedings.
The mornings proceedings were started out with questions from Counsel Assisting Stoljar towards Kathy Jackson on the subject of inflation.
Jackson has previously pointed the crooked finger of accusation at others for inflating costs, so how were things managed under her control?
In the legal costs related to the Peter Mac settlement there was an invoice of $1,122 from Slater and Gordon, however this figure was inflated to a cool $65,470 under the Jackson financial recording system and was allegedly represented to Peter Mac Cancer Hospital in the inflated form as part of the $250K settlement that deprived members of their entitlements and gave Kathy a quarter of a million dollars to spend as she wished. And spend she did…
Next up came travel costs that should have stayed in the coffers of the membership but instead the cash ended up scattered all over the globe.
One particular trip to the US was highlighted as it cost the membership a cool $80,000. Kathy was unsure if her family travelled with her on this trip, however thought her husband Jeff may have come over for a week. When asked if any of his costs like accommodation etc were paid for by Kathy’s union members, this notion was adamantly rejected, I guess Jeff must have slept in the car or somewhere else.
When it came to other trips Jackson’s memory became quite vague on both the trips taken and who went with her.
I may be able to fill in the blanks a little for her…
I know of at least two trips to the US, one with Jeff with a detour to Mexico and I believe Cuba, and another with Michael Lawler that may have incorporated Canada.
There was the Hong Kong trip, that Jackson had trouble recollecting
There was also a Europe trip, the famed Paris trip in which Jackson had a friend with her, and it has been alleged that union money was deposited into this friends account as spending money for the trip.
Jeff and a Cuban
Jackson was also asked to clarify what she meant when she claimed to have been “ambushed” by the Royal Commission last time she appeared. This was before refusing to answer questions and fleeing.
This question to Jackson was not answered in a way that made any real sense, and Commissioner Heydon pointed out that she had been told in advance the line of questioning she should have expected, which largely related to the NHDA fund. This had been no more of an ambush than I am Elvis.
Just before lunch Mark Irving returned to cross-examine Jackson, and started out querying Jacksons authority to sign cheques for the HSU East branch.
It turns out that Kathy had signed a cheque that she was not authorised to sign. Luckily it was only for a trivial amount, a cool $63,000. Despite it being a large sum and Kathy not being authorised to sign the cheque according to union rules it was signed. As it turns out it was for someone who Kathy apparently considered vastly more important than the union rules. Herself.
The $63K was an honorarium payment, something no other branch secretary had received before in the union, but Kathy and her BCOM buddies thought she deserved it.
Jackson and Bolano – not really walking on sunshine…
After lunch Heather Wellington from Peter Mac Hospital took the stand.
Wellington was asked about the settlement with Jacksons branch that led to the $250K payment to the union and the workers getting didley squat.
Wellington was adamant that the payment was a reimbursement of legal and related costs to the union, and was authorised for “up to $250K”.
Luckily with the creative accounting and inflation we saw on the Slater and Gordon the figure came to exactly the amount that it was capped at.
Irving then continued his cross-examination and moved on to donations that had been made for over $1,000 that had not been declared. Any donation over $1000 must be declared according to the Fair Work Act or the union can be fined and action taken against it by Fair Work Commission.
Jackson admitted to breaching these acts and risking the union in the process, it is also worth noting that while breaching the Fair Work Commissions regulations, she was the partner of FWC’s Vice President, the Tony Abbott appointed Michael Lawler.
Things went even further downhill from there, it turns out that further donations were being made that breached the act from the kitty that was kept in the steel box. Kathy actually stated re the secret unaudited and unregulated kitty;
“The purpose of these funds was to avoid disclosure”
Kathy kept repeating that she had been advised to set up the kitty fund, but when pushed on who gave the advice refused to answer. When the Commissioner finally stepped in and instructed her to answer, she said that nobody had advised her as she had stated at all.
Jackson had started with her credibility on low, and it was still going down at this point.
Next up came the blank cheques that had been signed by Jane Holt and left lying around the office.
We were the first to break the news of these cheques and the reckless disregard for member’s money that saw these cheques pre-signed and left lying round the office after Jacksons faction had been voted out of both branches 1 and 3.
Pre-signed blank cheques
Using logic I can’t explain, Jackson somehow determined that Irving was somehow responsible for these cheques being stolen from Melbourne and going through his hands and into mine so that I could put them on the “blogosphere”. Oh, and the mysterious missing exercise book suffered the same fate. Suddenly it seems I am in possession of the exercise book? Is that the Twilight Zone music I can hear in the background?
Jackson could also not give reasonable explanations as to why huge sums of member’s money was passed to Marco Bolano’s branch as a “loan” without any loan documentation. Not even an email.
The most amusing part of cross-examination was saved till last however.
Audio was played from the HSU convention. The audio captured the moment that Michael Williamson entered the convention and was introduced.
Yes there was a great deal of rousing applause, however what was very noticeably missing was the Rocky Theme music that witness after witness from Jackson’s faction had testified to under oath.
Tomorrow Jackson is back on the stand and there is also the possibility that the suppression will be lifted from the statement of Chris Brown which will allow a real cross-examination.
Expect theatrics.
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Great work, Wixxy. I’m hoping thise poor excuse for a woman gets her just desserts , but I’m still afraid there are powers behind the scenes that do not want her thrown to the wolves for fear of the secrets she might reveal….and she must have lots of them. Methinks they will do anything they can to ensure she only gets a slap on the wrist. But, if Jackson is found guilty of corruption on a grand scale, my faith in justice in this country might be restored…a bit.
All the fuss the msm made of CThompson’s trip to WA yet net, nothing, zero on the o’s tripping of KJ and the many thousands of Union member funds for her, her family & her FWA judge boyfriend to do so.
That pearl necklace soon disappeared after lunch. Irvine should ask when she bought it, how it was paid?
It could of been a gift given to her, but who knows.
The interesting part is why did she remove it? I seem to remember a receipt or something in one of your previous article about buying a necklace for someone (I believe) I wonder if it is this pearl necklace?
Irvine should ask about Lawler going on overseas trips
I noticed Bolano running around speaking to Kathys lawyers when the video was played. It looks like they have something up their sleeve. MB another video of another event? They will probably try to find an event where music was played and try to say it was the same meeting/event.
What was it about the cheque and the exercise book being stolen at the same time? Did Irvine say the cheque book that was supposed to be stolen at the same time as the exercise book got replace two years earlier?
Intrigue is opening up to the coquettish where soon we may have much more than a Ménage à trois with Lawler being the added “stoolie toolie”?
Does the,so far failed to impress sex bomb revelations mean that Jacksons knickers simply refused to remain as part of her attire around all the men involved so far in this tale of greed,corruption,embezzlement,fraud and misrepresentation of fiduciary responsibilities to her HSU members.
I want just served on KJ but more so the sleazeballs backing her. It is getting closer to Abbott. But he will always be protected. He could take the maidenhood a Vestrel Virgin atop the Speaker’s Chair in full view of the public gallery packed with nuns and still get away with it.
I had the same question as Nifty re linkage between cheques & exercise book. What was Irving trying to prove?
Apart from discrediting KJ’s & her factions testimony, what is the significance of the Rocky theme, why did they all specifically include in their evidence? Bolano’s behaviour whilst this was being played was astounding, some have suggested he was mouthing “time for lunch” but if Wixxy is able to watch a replay, very interested in your take.
KJ complained when “ambushed” could not afford legal representation, has the tax payer picked up the tab?
Why was Brown’s statement redacted?
Thanks for your excellent work Wixxy
Was an excellent decision Craig Thomson delayed sentencing!
Over the years –you(Wixxy)— have proven with old school investigative ,forensic journalism that this lampet eel is as crooked as they come.
The paperwork you have produced –dropped into the lap of an honest State Government DDP– should have had this womwan
answering fraud charges in front of a supreme court ——-and if found guilty on the evidence put forward should have been punished severely
—- but alas —with the conservatives using this poor dupe and patsy for ultra political entrappment reasons concerning Craig Thomson’s
demise –so as to bring about the downfall of the previous hung parliament —the use for her has ceased to be a priority–
as predicted by so many followers of yours– on this site (and on Independent Australia )
I feel this union fiend will escape true justice by donning the white ward coat and readmitting herself to a private expensive protective Psych ward
where she will fiegn mental related stress disorders —thus putting her beyond reach of the justice system
Hello. I read your article with great interest, and I wholly agree with what you wrote. But I do have a question about the two pre-signed blank cheque images you included. Are these images of the actual cheques that were allegedly stolen from Kathy Jackson’s office? And if so, who has them now, and how did you come to have photos of them?
They were among photos of shredded documents and such that were sent to me by a source when the after the election. I can’t say whom for obvious reasons.
I don’t know who has them as I have never seen them myself, i think they would be with either the branch the police or the Royal Commission.
There was never a report of these cheques being stolen until Kathy was faced with the evidence in the last few days.
However even if they were taken from her office, which I do not believe they were, is it good practice to have signed blank cheques around? It does not seem like a very responsible way of securing the members funds and would breach all manner of governance standards.
When I first published the images almost a year ago there was never a suggestion of them being stolen at all.
The joke of the day is Kathy saying she will never again try and expose corruption in the unions – it would have been a good idea to have clean hands before she started.
Surely by now 4 Corners have enough dirt on this woman and her gang to do a really good program. After all the scumbag media spent years stitching Thomson up based only on her word.
Hi Peter. I agree with you whole-heartedly. And as a newcomer to your website, can I say how refreshing it is to read Kathy Jackson material that is being looked at critically and analytically! I am a refugee from the Michael Smith News website – a website that began magnificently from an investigative point of view but that has now degenerated to a ridiculously fourth rate and partisan website as far as things Kathy Jackson are concerned. Comments posted on the Michael Smith website used to be substantial and worthwhile, and used to provide balanced and reflective commentary. Now the vast bulk of comments posted there are the puerile and banal bleating of what remains of Michael Smith’s followers – his strongest and credible supporters having now abandoned him. Followers (or sheeple) who simply swallow all that Michael tells them and who seem unable to think for themselves. Followers who, like him, wantonly and recklessly ignore objective evidence – something that Michael Smith used to rail against when he lamented the conduct of a lazy mainstream news media. I think Michael Smith might do well to consider renaming his website “The Kathy Jackson can do no wrong” website. As you so perceptively put it a few days ago, Kathy Jackson considers herself above scrutiny – and her supporters follow suit. Anyone who has the temerity to question Kathy or her conduct is accused of ambushing her, of tearing her down and of being in cahoots with her enemies. A very sad delusion.
This from the Guardian article – Jackson said funds were needed to protect the union from “vultures” in the ALP “that are circling these unions to take them over”.
How much allegedly was spent on herself again? How many trips and who with? How was her actions protecting the union from the so called vultures? What was the state of the finances before and after her tenure so her allegations can be verified? Was the plan (due to the conservative views of the union member, I believe it was mentioned in Turc) to push the union towards the LNP?
Many more questions need to be asked, but who will dare confront her to ask them & report her answers (Video).
So, Kathy Jackson the whistle blower outlandishly describes her experience before the Royal Commission as “judicial gang rape” and says she won’t try to expose union corruption again. Kathy Jackson and her head in the sand supporters need to be reminded of some home truths, especially since they have the sheer gall to compare her to whistle blowers such as Bob Kernohan or Ralph Blewitt. The fact is, not all whistle blowers are the same, and not all whistle blowers deserve the label “hero”.
Some whistle blowers blow the whistle with utterly clean hands, and they rightly deserve our admiration and respect. Bob Kernohan is clearly one such whistle blower.
Other whistle blowers blow the whistle with dirty hands, but make full and frank admission of their wrongdoing. And not only do they make full and frank admission of their wrongdoing, but they also express genuine remorse and contrition for their past actions. These whistle blowers also deserve our admiration and respect. Ralph Blewitt is one such a whistle blower.
There are still other whistle blowers who blow the whistle with dirty hands, but who never admit to specific and particular wrongdoing. Indeed, these whistle blowers often try to justify their actions rather than express genuine remorse or contrition. These whistle blowers do not deserve our admiration and respect – they deserve only our contempt. And Kathy Jackson is one such whistle blower.
That Kathy Jackson blew the whistle on her previous cess pit playmates is, in one sense, a desirable thing. Crooks like Thomson and Williamson deserve to be “outed” and held to account for their criminality. But it is a travesty of logic and common sense that Kathy Jackson now seeks to put on the robe of “whistle blowing hero”. That Kathy Jackson now seeks to place herself in the same category as Bob Kernohan and Ralph Blewitt is a liberty outrageous beyond belief. Whistle blowers who blow the whistle with dirty hands, but who deny specific wrongdoing and who try to justify their previous conduct, are not heroes – they are hypocrites and scoundrels. And Kathy Jackson’s whistle blowing should be seen for what it truly is. Rather than being an heroic act, Kathy Jackson’s whistle blowing is merely a falling out among thieves.
Wrote on much the same theme as JB some time ago on the Smith site for the benefit of the wilfully blind who reside there.
“A criminal who informs on criminal colleagues in return for some immunity from prosecution from his or her admitted crimes is not called a whistleblower. That person is rightly regarded as a self-serving pragmatist generally exploiting the opportunity to grasp at an immunity or remission which is reluctantly conferred. Such a person is rarely praised or valued. The same could be said of informers whose chief purpose is to distract from their own illegal activities. A third category is the person who sees the light on the road to Damascus, and seeks to atone for his or her sins by some sort of sacrifice which includes an acknowledgment of those sins. That person is a convert, not a whistleblower. The Royal Commission is quite rightly not allowing Ms Jackson to present herself as a bona fide whistleblower until she can explain some pretty robust evidence to the contrary. That is the way it should be.”
Evidence presented since, and her irrational indignation at being asked to explain where the members’ money went, confirm she is no bona fide whistleblower.
The more I think about Kathy Jackson’s “judicial gang rape” comment to journalists today following her latest appearance before Commissioner John Dyson Heydon AC QC, the more perturbed I become. Commissioner Heydon is a former High Court Justice and he has enjoyed a long and distinguished career as an eminent jurist. This alone entitles him to the respect of the Australian community regardless of what one’s political or personal prejudices might be.
Section 6O of the Royal Commissions Act 1902 provides for the following under Part 3 – Offences:
6O Contempt of Royal Commission
(1) Any person who intentionally insults or disturbs a Royal Commission, or interrupts the proceedings of a Royal Commission, or uses any insulting language towards a Royal Commission, or by writing or speech uses words false and defamatory of a Royal Commission, or is in any manner guilty of any intentional contempt of a Royal Commission, shall be guilty of an offence.
Penalty: Two hundred dollars, or imprisonment for three months.
In my view, Kathy Jackson’s “gang rape” comments are hugely offensive, derogatory, defamatory and insulting. I would be somewhat taken aback if the current Royal Commission did not concur with this. I am also mightily unimpressed and dismayed at Michael Smith’s recent snide written comment about “Sweeney Todd Central” in which he makes the unmistakeable association between the Royal Commission and a barber’s chair. Indeed, in recent times Smith has regularly permitted and caused the publication of insulting and offensive blog comments by Kathy Jackson supporters on his website.
This nonsense has to stop. Both Kathy Jackson and Michael Smith (and maybe some of Smith’s website participants) should be summonsed by Commissioner Heydon, and asked to show cause why they should not be found guilty of contempt under Section 6O of the Royal Commissions Act 1902.
Maybe Ralph has done the right thing. Time will tell. Evidence given so far, one could say, casts doubt on that.
What is fact, whistle blowers must stick to strict truth. It is a crime to lie under oath, especially RC.
Wixxy I had wondered why KJ had associated you with the cheques and the exercise book. Sometimes these compulsive liars will throw in the teensiest element of truth as It is the only way they can keep a straight face. -The liar has to believe in what they are saying is the truth.
You see the fact you had photos of the cheques, means in her mind you had the cheques.
So the question is where did the exercise book fit in with the lie.? Is it possible that the photos you have of the torn documents may be some of the expenses in the alleged exercise book?
Just thinking