With the Trade Union Royal Commission releasing it’s findings condemning Kathy Jackson, it’s easy to forget those who helped her along her way.
Here’s a refresher, and bear in mind all of these people knew of the allegations against her whilst defending her.
Judge for yourself.

The Trade Union Royal Commission has finally recommended Kathy Jackson be investigated for possible criminal charges. It now seems at long last everyone is in agreement about someone who may prove to be the biggest thief of workers funds in Australia’s history.

While Jackson may now be finally forced to deal with the consequences of her actions, what of those who backed her? What of those who supported her, and went out of their way to influence media, court proceedings, the public, and police investigations to try and ensure that she was never held to account?

Are these people not accomplices?

I thought a timely reminder was in order of just who backed Jackson and her crew every inch of the way.

Perhaps we should start with the Royal Commission itself.

Before Jackson allegedly perjured herself and turned the Commission into a circus sideshow with her antics, she was seemingly being protected. Preferential treatment on the stand for her colleagues while her opponents were attacked and chastised resulted in one prominent journalist commenting

“The fix is in”

As Jackson’s thug sidekick Marco Bolano did his best to intimidate Commission witnesses and members of the media whilst collecting workers compensation for complete incapacitation, the Royal Commission took statements and gave him a free pass.

Meanwhile the Commission let Jackson’s time on the stand turn so melodramatic and face so many delays in procedure that her cross-examination was never completed.

Additionally, the exposure of private correspondence between Jackson’s legal team and the Commission staff discussing the way events would unfold displayed a cosy relationship indeed.

It was only after a barrage of highly damaging media reports that the Commission was forced to stop throwing lifelines and let her sink or swim.

In a legal sense Jackson’s support seemed sound right from the start.

On side she had her partner Michael Lawler, Vice President of Fair Work Australia and brother of the then CEO of the Australian Crime Commission John Lawler, the highest ranking law enforcement officer in the country. Both appointed to their positions by the John Howard government.

Some may also remember right from the beginning that Jackson was receiving pro-bono legal representation from right-wing law firm Harmers, who at the time were also representing James Ashby pro-bono.

Speaking of politicians let’s not also forget that Coalition MP’s were stumbling all over each other for a chance to talk up the right-wing pin-up girl. The lady with the deer in the headlights look on her face that was gonna take down the union movement for them, despite lacking an ability to complete a sentence in a coherent manner.

At the top of that dung pile of right-wing pollies was Prime Minister Tony Abbott, singing the praises of this decent and noble woman who just so happened to knock off well over a million bucks from the nation’s lowest paid workers. Joining him in his choruses of high praise in parliament was Christopher Pyne.

For the first time in Australia’s political history the Coalition put forward and passed a parliamentary apology to a Million Dollar Plus Thief and her allies. An apology for the words of someone who tried to warn them of what is now public knowledge.

Perhaps when parliament next sits we can look forward to an honorary roll call of Pentridge’s Cell Block C?

The list of Coalition MP’s is too long to list, but there was Barnaby Joyce, George Brandis, and the Senator who no doubt had the “Map Of Tassie” in mind, Eric Abetz, to name a few.

On the sidelines we had the talkback radio shockjocks who treated Jackson as if she was some hybrid of Wonder Woman and Mother Mary.

Both in and out of studio in interview after interview propagandists like Ray Hadley, Chris Smith, and Paul Murray had their audiences reaching for vomit bags or ice cream containers.

Hadley was dealing with Apprehended Violence Orders from his former wife (later dropped), and Chris Smith was thanking his lucky stars for being able to pull-off the bipolar defence and return to the air after getting pissed at an office party and sexually harassing four female staff members. Smith has a long history of sexually assaulting or groping female colleagues (perhaps he should have a chat with Jamie Briggs). These things didn’t stop them preaching the morality of the alleged thief Jackson, and the wannabe thug compo rorting Marco Bolano on air. Birds of a feather eh?

I sent Ray Hadley an email asking for his opinion of Jackson now, but alas he’s on holidays.

Perhaps even more disgraceful and shocking however was the behaviour of the print media by some elements of News Ltd and Fairfax.

The Australians Ean Higgins was happy to seemingly print Jackson’s opinions as if they were facts while completely distorting the facts surrounding Craig Thomson’s legal woes. Something he was slammed for by the Magistrate who publicly condemned one Higgins article for falsehoods, misleading headlines and being full of errors.

However it was Kate McClymont’s efforts at Fairfax that were the most shocking.

Just like Independent Australia, Kate McClymont has published a book in the last 18 months that revolved around corruption and the abuse of power. However unlike McClymont, Independent Australia hasn’t had to pull the book from sale and destroy copies.

If only McClymont had done the research that Independent Australia is becoming known for, maybe her views would have differed. But despite being sent the documentation, researching was not something Kate was interested in doing. Perhaps Kate should shorten her title from investigative journalist to “invested journalism” as she seemed heavily invested in Jackson.

McClymont went on to win a Walkley award for writing an article full of now disproven lies from an alleged thief, and a mysterious private investigator.

McClymont’s former partner was of course a private investigator, however despite persistent rumours of a business relationship with Michael Lawler, MyClymont and her former partner Graeme Brosnan deny these allegations.

MyClymont who seemed to be extremely fortunate to be in the right place at the right time when anyone associated with the HSU was arrested or had their premises raided was strangely absent when the cops raided properties associated with Jackson and Lawler.

Now that both Higgins and McClymont seldom mention anything HSU related I’m pleased to report that both News Ltd and Fairfax have moved on the factual reporting, and real investigation, rather than just regurgitation of the lies of a serial liar and misappropriator of millions.

Although, I note that Higgins did a rather lame piece on Jackson in yesterdays Australian, let’s hope after that article he goes back to reporting on jaywalkers and council issues or whatever it was that has kept him away.

Last but not least we come to the guy throwing the dollars behind Jackson’s union campaigns and those of her factional accomplices.

Feeney the Financier.

David Feeney, a current member of Shorten’s opposition cabinet, has spent years organising donations for the Jacksonville election fund, to finance the woman who has for years been trying to take his leader down. Some may think this sounds like high treason, but for Feeney it’s just another day at the office.

So why would Feeney do this?

Feeney relied on the proxy votes Jackson controlled via the HSU at ALP conferences to prop up his lame arse and keep his position. Wixxyleaks also understands there were other financial ties between Feeney and Jackson however these are not likely to become public knowledge until the Organised Crime division of the Federal Police and Victoria Police have finished their investigation into the relationship.

How this guy remains in the Labor Party is beyond the comprehension of us mere mortals.

Whatever happens to Jackson and Lawler, and perhaps Feeney it is unlikely that any of these other low-lifes will face any consequences for trying to ensure a criminal remained free and in a position to continue picking the pockets of workers.

They say that you should start a new year in the same manner you mean to finish it. I for one intend to hold these grubs to account at each and every turn.

That’s just how I roll….

 

 

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