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April 11th, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda
THE acting president of the Health Services Union Chris Brown says it would be “absolutely obscene” for a union official to be paid up to $350,000 a year and have access to secret credit cards.
Allegations reported by Fairfax that HSU president Michael Williamson, who has been stood aside from his $350,000-a-year role, has used an American Express credit card to chalk up as much as $30,000 a month on expenses are understood to be among those being examined by independent auditor Ian Temby, QC.
Mr Temby has been appointed by the union to look at tender, recruitment and spending processes, and is due to hand in a report soon.
The HSU is also under scrutiny by Victorian and NSW police, and Fair Work Australia has completed two investigations which are set to lead to Federal Court action against former and current officials.
One of those former officials is Labor MP Craig Thomson, who has denied allegations of misusing a union credit card for prostitutes and cash withdrawals.
Mr Brown said he could not confirm the reports of salaries and spending because as acting national president he did not have access to the books of the union’s dominant branch, HSU East, which is also headed by Mr Williamson.
“It vindicates our call for Mr Williamson to resign from his positions in the union because he is just doing the union so much damage,” Mr Brown told Sky News.
He said he was appalled by the amounts of money being cited.
“I’ve got to say the reports, if they are true, that Mr Williamson is on $350,000 a year and (union national secretary) Kathy Jackson is on $270,000 a year would mean that that is absolutely obscene,” Mr Brown said.
“I don’t think any union official anywhere in the country would go anywhere close to that amount, and there should be something done about it.”
The 77,000-member union represents some of the lowest-paid workers in the country, in aged-care and health-sector jobs.
Mr Brown said he understood Mr Williamson, who has denied any wrongdoing, had legal advice that he could not co-operate with the Temby inquiry and other investigations.
“Obviously it would have been preferable for Mr Williamson to have co-operated with both the Temby inquiry and any other inquiry so that we can get to the bottom of what is going on,” Mr Brown said.
Mr Brown said the national executive had been operating well since 2007, when Mr Thomson left to become a federal Labor MP.
“We are in good shape nationally,” he said.
“Our problem child at the moment is the east branch of the union … and until we can sort that out we will not be able to move on.”
Meanwhile, Industry Minister Greg Combet told reporters in Melbourne that it was important not to prejudge the HSU investigations, but standing up for values was equally vital.
“It’s also important in a general sense to indicate we see the conduct that has been canvassed … is not something that is acceptable,” Mr Combet said.
“That’s not something that reflects the values of the labour movement.”
Australian Workers’ Union national secretary Paul Howes, who last week voted in favour of the ACTU suspending the HSU from its ranks, said the scandal had unfairly sullied the reputation of the entire union movement.
“The time has come for the HSU to sort out the HSU,” he said.
“You have one small union here with a few individuals who have acted in an incredibly selfish manner.”
The union’s national executive will meet on April 27 to decide on a way forward and whether to take action to oust Ms Jackson and Mr Williamson, who is on paid leave pending the investigation outcomes.
However, Mr Williamson’s supporters have a majority of votes on the national executive.
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