With Liberal politicians, shock-jocks, and right-wing commentators all running away from Kathy Jackson like cockroaches when a light is turned on, many wonder what type of person would consider supporting Jackson.
With allegations of improper spending of union members funds for her own benefit expected to exceed $2 Million, it’s fair to say Jackson isn’t winning any popularity contests
Jackson has approximately $1 Million in credit card expenditure that she refuses to explain and refuses to provide bank statements that would give details. She is currently in Federal Court in a civil matter for over $700,000 which the union is trying to claim back from her. There are other allegations which are yet to come out due to Jackson seeking to have it suppressed by the Royal Commission in a dazzling display of her hypocrisy regarding transparency. These items many believe will push her close to or over the $2 Million mark.
No wonder former supporters are ducking for cover as the proverbial hits the fan.
For those who want to know what sort of person supports someone spending members money on seemingly anything but the members one only needs to look at last year’s failure in the NSW HSU elections Katrina Hart.
This year HSU members have until the 10th of October to cast vote to elect the team that will look after the members interests on their behalf.
With that in mind I thought it was timely to remind people of the type of behaviour that Katrina Hart represents.
Katrina Hart has attended the Royal Commission with her pals Kathy Jackson and Marco Bolano on many occasions. She has been happy to be by their side as a show of support while allegations regarding Jackson are made before the Commission, and while Marco Bolano has been desperately trying and dismally failing to intimidate witnesses and members of the press.
The witness statement that she gave the Royal Commission and her testimony that seemed to be her way of launching her election campaign have already been discredited. The signed statement that she gave the Royal Commission contained lies that were easily proven to be so by evidence. Evidence that highlighted not just her own stupidity, but her willingness to lie to a Royal Commission.
Just what the union needs…
The D Team – Hart second from right supported by the far-right
Harts ironically titled “Clean Them Out” team has been happy to bombard members with emails such as the one attached below.
A NEW DIRECTION- KATRINA HART CAMPAIGN
The direction Katrina Hart takes the union would only be new to someone unaccustomed to travelling backwards.
Given some of what they choose to put in their campaign emails I thought I’d ask Hart and her team some similar questions regarding her actions and her campaign.
Here is what I sent her team via the email address given,
To Whom It May Concern,
I’m writing an article for Independent Australia and Wixxyleaks and was hoping that you would answer a few queries regarding the below email you have sent that was forwarded to me by a reader.
- How is the action against Chris Brown and Gerard Hayes going?
- Why is Katrina Hart so interested in what happens at another union ie: a Victorian Branch regarding Carol Glen? How does this in any way affect those in NSW?
- Given evidence has shown Carol Glens payment was based on that of Jamie Martorana’s will she be also taking legal action against Kathy Jackson and Marco Bolano for Mr Martorana’s payout? If not, why?
- Why has Katrina Hart spoken out in support of Kathy Jackson who is alleged to have stolen members funds and has certainly robbed workers of their entitlements in the Peter Mac settlement.
- Why has she accompanied Kathy Jackson and Marco Bolano to the Royal Commission?
- Katrina Hart falsely accused me of obtaining the members list in her Royal Commission statement to publish her home address, perhaps the same email list this email was sent using, when it was actually her that sent her own address out in a campaign email that she used a hospital computer to do an email blast to members from, violating rules for the use of NSW government property, just as this email has. Is she planning to apologise to both myself and the Royal Commission for misleading them?
- At the bottom of your email it states; “The Clean Them Out Team is not funded or supported by the TWU, AWU, CFMEU, etc or the Labor Party.” Can I firstly ask who you are referring to when you say “etc” and can you supply a list of who you are funded by seeing as though that is clearly an issue you expect your opponents to be transparent on.
- Why you have someone on your ticket that gave a personal reference to Michael Williamson? Is that not the very people you seek to “clean out”?
These are some of the questions that the members are interested in hearing your responses on so if you could respond it would be appreciated.
Given that they have around three weeks to respond and have failed to do so, allow me to help out with some answers.
- The case against Hayes and Brown is going nowhere. Ridiculous cases brought about for campaigning purposes tend to do that
- Katrina’s interest in Victorian matters only extends to what she can try to twist to gain mileage out of. Carol Glen is a friend of Gerard Hayes, however what Hart fails to tell people is that Glen’s package was based on the package that was given to Jamie Martorana who is a Jackson ally and is rumoured to be running for Marco Bolano in the upcoming #1 Branch elections in Victoria.
- As above
- Does she support this action from Jackson? Bear this is mind, these workers at Peter Mac were underpaid approximately $3 Million. After negotiations with Peter Mac, Kathy Jackson secured an agreement for the members. The final outcome of that agreement was the members didn’t receive a cent of their entitlements and Jackson ended up with $250K in a personal bank account to spend how she saw fit, spending wildly at JB Hi Fi, David Jones etc and giving $50K to her ex-husband.Would you be happy if your union secretary did this to you?Apparently Katrina Hart would, although then again she is hoping to be that secretary…
- Any desperate attempt to be in front of a camera or microphone during a campaign
- I won’t be holding my breath on an apology, however I await with interest the Commissions findings as they have evidence showing falsehoods in her statement and lying to a Royal Commission carries some heavy penalties.
- Hart is quick to point out who isn’t funding her campaign, but very slow in saying who is. You have to wonder why this is.
- Anybody who has ever had a conversation with Hart would be forgiven for thinking that perhaps English is a second language for her, although it isn’t as boganspeak has yet be classified as a language.Perhaps Hart does not know what hypocrisy is? However when you run a campaign entitled “Clean Them Out” and constantly refer to Michael Williamsons had his team of “cronies” as the ones you seek to clean out, it’s probably not a good idea to have one running for a senior position in your team. Probably…
If someone is OK with putting on a member of a team that they claim was corrupt to the core because it suits their own purposes than what does that make them? Better?
There will be those out there that say I am biased and yes I am.
I am biased because I believe in the union movement and what it seeks to achieve for its members. I am biased because I support those who look after the interests of ordinary Australians who are guilty of nothing more than trying to provide for their families.
I am biased because I want to see those who seek to damage or destroy the union movement exposed and brought down.
I am biased because I want to say those who are corrupt held to account and those who continue to support them banished from the union movement altogether.
Still if you think I’m biased against Kathy Jackson, just check out Google News and judge for yourself based on MSM reports.
If you want to hear or read about those who support the Katrina Hart campaign you can listen to the right-wing shock jocks on 2GB, or read about her on Michael Smiths blogsite. After that you may like to ask yourself why the only supporters of Harts campaign are either facing allegations of corrupt practices or are right-wing anti-union campaigners who seek to destroy the union movement.
It’s really not rocket science.
If you are a HSU member in NSW and value your rights, your entitlements, and your union, forward this article to your co-workers so they too can vote with knowledge. Print a copy out and pin it to your noticeboard at work, or show it round at lunch.
You deserve someone who will work for you, not the mouthpiece for fraudsters and right-wingers.
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Wixxy,
I hope the members win in this contest. Gawd knows. they have not been so far.
Peter, yet another chapter for the forthcoming book I hope. This story is too sordid and disgraceful not to be more widely known.
Hear hear, LLL! A book what a fabulous idea!
The ‘Clean Them Out’ team are too late.
Kathy Jacksons crooks have already “Cleaned them Out”……. Their union funds that is.
Who will be brave enough to say …. “Members have lost faith in our candidates and managerial teams, with regret to any of our associates who happen to be innocent, or, on the periphery and not involved in the ongoing debacle (<it's hard to swallow that too many were), we apologise, and should ALL for the sake of the union vacate and not reapply for any positions. The only way that we can hope to restore trust and rebuild membership is to have completely fresh faces."
Members can forgive inexperience. But continued corruption = destruction and annihilation.
The choice is theirs to make.
I hope they aren't such complete f*ck ups and that they don't get in wrong.
The best thing any of these jokes could do is withdraw from the ballot and take themselves as far away from the union as they possibly can.
No one wants their sh*T and the fact that they are still squabbling is a very clear indicator that nothing has been cleaned, swept under the rug perhaps, but it's still filthy and it still stinks.
IF YOU CALL YOURSELF UNION start looking for a new job now IF YOU HAVE A SINGLE SHRED OF COMMITMENT TO THE UNION. WALK AWAY. Make it a clean sweep.
I hope the HSU members read the Australian:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/hsu-demands-1m-from-kathy-jackson-for-misusing-union-funds/story-fn59niix-1227075132834
Duchy, would you be able to provide a summary for those of us who don’t subscribe to Limited News publications?
With pleasure. Pia Akerman reports:
THE Health Services Union has sought an immediate court judgment against its national secretary Kathy Jackson and is seeking orders that she pay more than $1 million for misusing union funds.
The HSU applied for a summary judgment in its case against Ms Jackson this morning, arguing she had failed to comply with court orders 17 times, holding up its lawsuit against her.
The union has alleged Ms Jackson, who has been on extended leave from the Health Services Union, misused her office and misappropriated union funds.
Mark Irving, representing the HSU, told the Federal Court that the union was seeking $392,350 for its claim that Ms Jackson had misused funds to hire lawyers to fight proposed Fair Work Australia findings against her.
The union is seeking $740,989 from Ms Jackson for another claim that she broke governance and accounting rules to appoint factional ally Rob Elliott to a position when she was secretary of a Victorian HSU branch.
Mr Irving said costs were sought in lieu of damages.
If the summary judgment is not granted, the HSU will pursue an alternative claim alleging Ms Jackson misappropriated $663,000 in union funds for personal use.
It is alleged Ms Jackson spent $250,000 on union credit cards, $250,000 in cash cheques, $100,000 in payments from its accounts, and $63,000 on an honorarium.
Ms Jackson has been on unpaid sick leave for more than two years.
Her legal representatives — who she has repeatedly replaced — were not in court today, but a letter was sent saying Ms Jackson had been in hospital for the past week.
Mr Irving said Ms Jackson — who referred to him as a previous “charity shag” when trying to avoid facing questions from him in the royal commission — said Ms Jackson had repeatedly used legal tactics “calculated” to delay the case and “avoid judgment day for as long as
possible”.
“This reversion to alleged illness is something that has arisen constantly in proceedings in this court and elsewhere to get adjourned proceedings,” he said.
Justice Richard Tracey directed copies of the union’s proposed orders and transcript from today’s hearing be sent to Ms Jackson’s lawyers.
He adjourned the case until 14 October, warning Ms Jackson to file any response to the summary judgment request by 10 October.
“I will foreshadow that in the event of any failure to file such submissions, I will be minded to make summary judgment orders in favour of your client,” he told Mr Irving.
Justice Tracey said he would reflect on whether he should order exactly as requested by the union.
Thanks for taking the trouble, Duchy. Music to my ears, and a glimmer of hope for everyone who has been waiting so long for justice for HSU members (and for Jackson’s Coalition cronies to be shown for what they are).
No problems LLL. I see there is even more in the Age:
Controversial unionist Kathy Jackson allegedly used union credit cards to misappropriate more than $660,000 for her own expenses including airline tickets, boutique hotel rooms and upmarket dinners while on a series of lavish overseas holidays.
Her alleged expenses, revealed in bank statements subpoenaed by the Health Services Union, also list large purchases at Melbourne department stores and liquor shops. Thousands of dollars were allegedly blown in single visits to some of the city’s most exclusive bars and restaurants.
The transactions relate to multiple union credit cards controlled by Ms Jackson and bring the total amount of members’ funds she is alleged to have misused to more than $1.4 million.
Ms Jackson, the former Victorian HSU boss, rose to national prominence for exposing the credit card misuse of her predecessor, disgraced former federal MP Craig Thompson. He was convicted of fraud charges earlier this year for misappropriating about $24,000 of union funds. But Ms Jackson has come under growing scrutiny for her own conduct and now faces a string of damning corruption claims levelled against her by her former union.
The latest claims, outlined in documents seen by Fairfax Media, allege that she misappropriated members’ fees to fund a five-star lifestyle.
Acting HSU national secretary Chris Brown said the union was “seriously considering” referring the matter to Victoria Police to launch a criminal investigation into Ms Jackson’s conduct.
Ms Jackson is implicated in the misuse of union funds to the tune of $250,000 through union-provided credit cards, a further $250,000 in cash cheques and $100,000 in unaccounted payments.
Three union credit cards – a Diners Club card, a Citibank MasterCard and a CBA MasterCard – were allegedly used by Ms Jackson to fund flights and travel expenses on 18 holidays between 2003 and 2011 to destinations such as the Gold Coast, Hong Kong, New York City and France.
Among the alleged expenses detailed in the HSU statement of claim are:
$2200 at George Calombaris’ flagship Melbourne restaurant, The Press Club, in December 2003.
$3011 for accommodation at the Paramount Hotel, New York, in January 2004.
$1742 at clothing store J Crew in Boston in February 2004.
$14,000 in cash withdrawals in Hong Kong in a week in October 2004.
$13,000 for accommodation at Astra Alpine Lodge, Falls Creek, in August 2005.
The documents allege she spent about $120,000 of union funds on various domestic and international holidays, $76,900 on retail products such as Apple-brand electronic goods for her personal use, $13,000 on dozens of trips to her local grocery stores and bottle shops, and $32,000 on entertainment.
Ms Jackson is currently being sued by her former union for about $740,000 amid separate claims she broke governance rules when she hired a law firm in late 2011 and when she appointed factional ally Rob Elliott to a $150,000 position. She is also accused of misappropriating union money in a slush fund called the National Health Development Account.
The HSU is seeking court orders for Ms Jackson to pay back $1 million for misusing members’ funds. It has applied for a summary judgment, arguing she had failed to comply with court orders 17 times and had been deliberately delaying the case against her.
If the summary judgment is not granted, the HSU will pursue the alternative claim alleging Ms Jackson misappropriated $663,000 in union funds for her own use, as outlined in the new bank records.
Ms Jackson did not attend a court hearing on Tuesday, saying she was too sick. But Mark Irving, representing the HSU, accused Ms Jackson of faking an illness in a bid to “avoid judgment day” for as long as possible.
“This reversion to alleged illness is something that has arisen constantly in proceedings in this court and elsewhere to get adjourned proceedings,” he said.
Justice Richard Tracey ordered that copies of the union’s proposed orders and oral submission be sent to Ms Jackson’s lawyers. He adjourned the case until October 14.
Philip Beazley, representing Ms Jackson, did not respond to a request for comment.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/national/unionist-kathy-jacksons-alleged-credit-card-misuse-takes-total-to-14m-20140930-10o8wd.html#ixzz3EnlyKRyL
Duchy – how anyone can still possibly regard Kathy Jackson as a “whistleblowing hero” in light of the current circumstances is totally beyond me. To this day, Jackson’s biggest fan and cheer leader, Michael Smith, is still making oblique comments of support for his valued “close friend” on his blogsite, replete with veiled hints at how badly Jackson was treated at the Royal Commission. Smith is either a total fool, or he has been completely beguiled by Jackson’s charms. Or perhaps he is merely acknowledging his obligation to Jackson given that he has been living at her place for some considerable time now. Earlier this year Smith announced on Sydney radio that so convinced was he of the integrity and nobility of his heroine Kathy Jackson, that he, Smith, was publicly staking his professional reputation on her. Given recent developments, I wonder what we should now conclude about Michael “Charity” Smith and his professional reputation?
Where is Kate McClymont, she is silent about her heroine. Over $2 million now by Jackson who was really living the high life with 18 holidays in 8 years.
JB, I know you spend a lot of time looking at the RC documents, so you would have read all the attachments to Jackson’s statement. Jeremy Stoljar gave her a taste of what was coming in the Federal Court by pulling apart her assertions in his examination of her on the stand. She and her close advisors must be completely arrogant to have thought they could get away with this. Or on some pretty mind numbing substances!
I am not surprised that neither her lawyer nor barrister were in court yesterday. After Heydon made the barrister read out loud the “charity shag” affidavit in one court, like a naughty schoolboy made to read out his ill prepared homework, he is maybe a bit shy of more slap downs from the bench. Or maybe he is not being paid.
The bundles of correspondence between the RC and Jackson/Lawler also contain some interesting reading, for those who care to read between the lines. Michael Lawler admits to the stress he has been under, and the fact that he was “spoken to” by his superiors. It seems likely he might be at risk of losing his 400K job. That should dry up Smith’s income stream. As for Smith’s “professional reputation”…he blew that a long time ago.
I’m sure there’s much more to come. Brandis and Abbott have a big problem now, and are not saying anything. I’m sure there are many in the ALP quietly enjoying some schadenfreude. You know what they say about revenge.
Thanks again, Duchy. It looks as though there may be even more to come out before this is over. I note that the Age now refers to Jackson as ‘controversial’ – not particularly damning but a few steps down from adored ‘whistle-blower’ and Coalition postergirl. Yes, Mariyn, where IS McClymont!
Yes, Duchy, I agree. Smith has proven to be a most peculiar character who has fooled a lot of people. Only a small handful of persons know the real story of Smith and his break up with some of his strongest friends and/or supporters. Most of his remaining blog site supporters have got absolutely no clue “who Michael Smith is” – although a few of them might suspect. Smith comes across as very personable and very genuine – until you get to know him a bit. Once the scales have fallen from your eyes. and when you hear what really goes on behind the scenes, only then do you begin to see the real Smith. And how do I know all this? I used to be one of Smith’s strongest and most ardent long-term supporters. And I have experienced firsthand the disillusionment that comes with revealed knowledge. But occasionally, Smith will let his guard slip, and will publicly display the character traits he tries so hard to mask. The most recent example of this is his recent public “outing” on his blog site of someone who was previously closer to him than most of his supporters. Smith revealed her personal and professional details on his website and allowed them to remain there for more than 24 hours. This person had (understandably) deliberately elected to keep her real identity secret. And in a fit of pique and payback (or, according to some, something worse), Smith betrayed her trust and publicly unmasked her. This is probably the most disgusting and outrageous acts of betrayal I ever seen in my quite long life. No man should ever do such a thing to a woman – any woman. It is the act of a coward. For an ex-police officer and an ex-soldier, Smith should hang his head in shame. Clearly, Kathy Jackson means a lot to Smith if he is prepared to forsake his friends and principles in the manner he has done. Perhaps Smith and Kathy Jackson deserve each other.