Help Crowd Fund The Jacksonville Book Here
Yesterday a joint task force from Victoria Police, and the Organised Crime division of the Federal Police raided properties in picturesque Wombarra, on the NSW South Coast.
These properties were the residence of the disgraced self-confessed whistleblower Kathy Jackson, and her partner Michael Lawler, as well as a property owned by David Rofe QC where Jackson and Lawler had been living. The houses are neighbouring as Lawler had purchased the house for Rofe having gained control of his estate after he was diagnosed with dementia despite not being a member of Rofe’s family. The neighboring Rofe property came in handy when shortly after its purchase a mystery fire damaged the Jackson/Lawler property, and they moved into the Rofe house.
Despite the public interest around the case, this time around neither Kate McClymont or Ray Hadley were there for the spectacle of the raid.
Police seized material from both premises some of it was reportedly in a shipping container. Computer equipment and boxes of documents are believed to be amongst the items that have been seized.
Unfortunately as of yet I have been unable to confirm if any of the documents appeared to by flood damaged, or if the infamous missing exercise book was discovered. Rumors that police had also discovered the ashes of Michael Smith’s reputation in the fireplace after it went up in smoke are believed to be unfounded.
Anyone seen an exercise book?
Image – ABC
It is also unclear as to whether evidence of another allegedly frequent visitor best known as “Charlie” was found on either property.
I’m sure we will hear more about what was discovered at a later point.
Luckily for police they got to meet Michael Lawler in person, they must have been blessed to catch him on a sick day, after all he’s only had about eight months worth of sickies. I hope they took a photo so they could send it to remind the Fair Work Commission what their Vice President looked like.
This incident further highlights the need for Malcolm Turnbull to finally cut both his Party and the public loose of Michael Lawler.
Turnbull had no trouble stabbing Abbott in his back, so surely he won’t have an issue snipping the umbilical cord between Abbott appointee Lawler and the public purse. Currently that cord is costing taxpayers $435,000 per year, a hefty salary for a someone who has unlimited sick leave and rarely shows up for work, perhaps making him Australia’s highest paid welfare recipient.
In fact while he was at home watching cops go through his stuff we mere taxpayers were paying him approximately $1200 for his day off.
Michael Lawler is certainly the highest ranking member of the judiciary I can recall to have their home raided by the organized crime division as part of a criminal investigation, perhaps the only one.
Here’s to another day off…
How is anyone expected to have faith in any case presided over by judge who’s home and contents are being ransacked by Federal and Victorian Police?
In that regards how is anyone supposed to have faith in the Fair Work Commission?
The government under Tony Abbott’s control had opportunities to rid themselves of this anchor that would one day pull them under, but alas with the support of Abbott and Abetz in particular, the anchor remained. Both Abbott and Abetz even went so far to put out false statements that it was the job of Fair Work Commission to sack Lawler if need be. These claims were refuted and slammed by many including Fair Work Commissions President and the Australian Bar Association in a press release that bore the title.
“Only Parliament can remove members of the Fair Work Commission”
The public are supposed to have faith in our legal system, if we don’t how can we expect to have law and order? Having the country’s second highest-ranking industrial judge raided by the organized crime squad is not what I’d call a confidence booster.
If Malcolm Turnbull doesn’t do something about this leech of taxpayer funds as a matter of urgency then he should be considered a Malcolm Turnbull appointee just as much as an Abbott appointee.
He’s your problem now Malcolm.
Change “countries” to “country’s” in the middle of 2nd last paragraph
It will be most interesting to see if Turnbull acts. To whom do you credit the raid, Wixxy ?
The police had to act I think
I think that the pair had made a mockery of a Royal Commission and are now paying the price…
Cheers
Although this is looking hopeful, I still can’t see it being followed through to the point where the guilty parties get what would be the legal consequences for people without friends in high places. For example, the Rofe business always reminds me of what a certain former Liberal MP got away with in similar circumstances – it had no effect whatsoever on her pre-selection and even after she lost her seat because she was worse than useless, they put her in a nicely-paid ‘job for the boys’ position for which she had zero experience. And, more recently, we have Sinodinos back at the seat of power as though nothing ever happened, even though not long ago he couldn’t remember what day it was. I hope KJ and ML’s passports have been cancelled.
Jackson’s treacherous denunciation of Craig Thomson’s tiny transgressions helped bring down *J*U*L*I*A* and eventually along with Ashby Brough et al to get Abbort installed. All the crooks should be in gaol for a long long time. Traitors.
It’ll be funny to watch them go down if Turnbull decides on a clearout. Despite their usefulness up til now, they’re not Made Men & Women & can go. We should all think very carefully before getting up close with the liberal party, it usually doesn’t end well.
Funny now this happens just after government protection for “LawJack” is removed. Maybe step 1 in Mal’s plan to remove the tainted VP!
I especially liked the part where you wrote “Despite the public interest around the case, this time around neither Kate McClymont or Ray Hadley were there for the spectacle of the raid.”
Then you topped yourself with “Rumors that police had also discovered the ashes of Michael Smith’s reputation in the fireplace after it went up in smoke are believed to be unfounded.”
Holy toilet paper Batman I was cacking myself and then you had the temerity to mention the “FLOODED “exercise book-tears are rolling from laughter down my cheeks.
Kate McClymont wouldn`t answer any of my tweets LOL
http://www.photoonica.com/media-temp/LS6ATIl-0.gif
I agree with your comments 100 percent, Peter! As to the latest Brad Norington article appearing in today’s edition of “The Australian”, I am absolutely staggered that the woman in the photograph is Kathy Jackson. The woman in the photo does not look anything like the Kathy Jackson usually depicted in media photos. But I am assured on very good authority that the image is indeed Kathy Jackson.
On a related matter, I wonder whether the police currently investigating Kathy Jackson and Michael Lawler (and, according to the latest Norington article, police are also focussing on Michael Lawler) are keen to question Michael Smith. But apparently Michael Smith has been hiding out somewhere in South East Asia ever since he split from Kathy Jackson and moved out of her family home. I wonder whether it is coincidence that Michael Smith has chosen to depart Australian shores and live (as his mate Ralph Blewitt has been doing) in an overseas jurisdiction?
Very funny Mr Wicks – love the article, love, love the captions but the pics of her yesterday have to be the very best – this is too good!
‘Wombarra’, and its certainly no ‘mansion’. A dull home ripe for demolition.
good on you, Peter!
Peter you might like to read the transcript of last weeks Media Watch on ABC TV. Interesting for how it reveals the pressure on journalists to the point where they avoid stories like yours.
http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s4325516.htm
Good on you Peter for your persistence & refusal to back down even when under the threat of legal action.
Thanks Ben, really appreciate it mate
hi Peter.
sorry to be so late to comment – busy !
again, nice work.
thank you for your contribution to the national debate.
i thought you were extremely generous on the day rate of pay for our brother on leave from FWA.
he probably doesn’t appreciate it, but you did him a big favour by dividing his $PA by 365 … the average working year for full time public servants is 231* … which makes his day rate $1880 + change (now i’m being generous as neither of us expect brother Mike to be working as many days as the average public servant – when he’s not on leave of course).
perhaps there is a more cost effective way we could manage brother Mike …
*source:
http://tinyurl.com/pk88oc8