Williamson goes on leave as HSU votes for an inquiry

September 22nd, 2011

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

AFTER widespread threats by members to quit the Health Services Union, the national president, Michael Williamson, bowed yesterday to demands and announced he was taking annual leave.

His departure comes a fortnight after the Herald revealed Mr Williamson and the former HSU official now federal MP, Craig Thomson, had allegedly received secret commissions from a major contractor to the union.

It was also revealed that Mr Williamson, who is nicknamed ”Mr Millions”, was a co-owner of the company which supplied computers and IT services to the union and his son was given an $800,000 union property to run a commercial rehearsal studio.

Questions have also been raised about the architect Mr Williamson used to renovate his home and holiday house. The architect has been paid an annual retainer by the union of $80,000 for the past five years as well as billing the union for hundreds of thousands of dollars for architectural work on union buildings.

Councillors voted unanimously yesterday to hold an independent inquiry into governance issues relating to the union, to be headed by the barrister Bernie Coles, QC.

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Mr Williamson did not attend yesterday’s emergency meeting but issued a statement saying the media coverage had been a distraction from the ”tireless work” the union carries out.

Mr Williamson listed his wife’s health as another reason for his decision to take leave. ”On a personal level, my wife, Julie, is going through a transition in medication for her multiple sclerosis. And stress is exacerbating her condition,” he said.

Mr Coles, the president of the NSW Bar Association, will appoint an accountant, an industrial relations lawyer and a governance expert to conduct the review.

The panel of experts will look at the use of corporate credit cards and potential conflicts of interest when officials have a stake in companies doing business with the union.

Tender, recruitment and expenditure processes as well as the union’s contractual arrangements will also be examined.

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The HSU’s national secretary, Kathy Jackson, who reported allegations of systemic corruption within the union to police 10 days ago, welcomed the review.

“It would have been better if the union had reached this spot earlier but we’re here now … The members aren’t stupid – they know what needs to be done and they get suspicious as hell when the union drags its chain,” she said in a statement.

The head of one of the largest state branches welcomed Mr Williamson’s decision to take leave but said it should have come earlier.

”He should’ve stepped aside instead of putting organisers and delegates through hell over the last fortnight,” she said.

”Newspaper articles have been thrown at me” and ”I’ve been bombarded with angry emails” demanding to know what membership fees were being used for, she said.

On Monday, Mr Williamson stood down from his party positions on the ALP’s national executive and as NSW vice-president.