Chasing union crook Michael Williamson's cash - bankruptcy expert to seek federal support to fund the asset trail hunt
JOHN LEHMANN THE DAILY TELEGRAPH OCTOBER 22, 2013 12:00AM

Former Health Services Union (HSU) national president Michael Williamson.
Former Health Services Union (HSU) national president Michael Williamson. Source: Supplied
FEDERAL funds could be provided to ensure the affairs of union crook Michael Williamson are thoroughly investigated.

The bankruptcy trustee investigating the former Labor Party president's finances said yesterday he may need to apply to the Commonwealth for funding - in similar fashion to the Christopher Skase case in which the Keating government pumped in extra money to track down the fugitive tycoon in the 1990s.

Any request is likely to be looked upon favourably by federal Attorney-General George Brandis, his office said yesterday.

"The investigation into Mr Williamson's affairs is plainly a case where the mechanisms are in place to provide extra funding if required,'' a spokesman for Senator Brandis said. "Such an application (for funding) would not be controversial.''

Michael Jones, a veteran in the bankruptcy field with more than 30 years experience, met with HSU officials yesterday to discuss the investigation into its former boss.

After the meeting, new HSU state secretary Gerard Hayes said the union was also committed to helping fund Mr Jones' probe to ensure "no stone is left unturned".

'ALL I HAVE IS A TINNIE', HSU CROOK PLEADS POOR


WILLIAMSON'S WIFE WILL GET A MILLION OF HIS SUPER


KING CRONY WILLIAMSON ADMITS STEALING MEMBERS' MONEY

Mr Jones has said he was "staggered" Williamson declared he only has about $40,000 in assets after being responsible for rorts worth $5 million.

Williamson, 60, pleaded guilty last week to ripping off $1 million from union members and faces up to 10 years in jail. He also filed for bankruptcy after agreeing he is liable for $5 million rorted from the HSU under his watch.

The Williamson investigation has the potential to shine a light more widely into the operations of the trade union movement.

Extra funding may be critical to help Mr Jones dig deeply into Williamson's private companies and bank records, and those of associates such as former mistress Cheryl McMillan.

It could lead to Williamson and other key witnesses being called to give testimony in the federal

Cunning as shithouse rats these socialists!


OC

theres me expecting a heap of lefties to come out and demand his neck on the block.. ;D ;D

nah they only want Abbotts..oh well..

they will probably have a collection for Williamson to help him fight the case like they did with THOMO ::)


$5million and not a thing to show for it..

REALLY?

Why would I defend a politician?

They lie and cheat, it goes with the job or as Anna Bligh would say "it's in our DNA"....that's why she had to change the law to de-criminalise lieing in parliament.

For every Lab liar and cheat, there's a Lib liar and cheat, but their cheats are worse than our cheats.....enjoy the game cods.

rips off 5 million and only got 40,000 left to show for it.

he must be the role model for the gillard/swan/rudd years.

their rip off of the taxpayer money tree seems to have produced similar results on a much grander scale.

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Oct 22^nd, 2013 at 7:41am:

Why would I defend a politician? They lie and cheat, it goes with the job or as Anna Bligh would say "it's in our DNA"....that's why she had to change the law to de-criminalise lieing in parliament. For every Lab liar and cheat, there's a Lib liar and cheat, but their cheats are worse than our cheats.....enjoy the game cods.

so whats your thoughts on Williamson then???..

one of the few that didnt make it onto the front bench.. ::) ::)

how did they miss him???????

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

cods wrote on Oct 22^nd, 2013 at 7:55am:

so whats your thoughts on Williamson then???..

I haven't really thought about him.

He sounds like a typical pollie to me, a cheating scumbag. I've got them all neatly bagged under "scum", I'll change that if someone can prove there's an honest one amongst them.

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Oct 22^nd, 2013 at 8:00am:

cods wrote on Oct 22nd, 2013 at 7:55am: so whats your thoughts on Williamson then???.. I haven't really thought about him. He sounds like a typical pollie to me, a cheating scumbag. I've got them all neatly bagged under "scum", I'll change that if someone can prove there's an honest one amongst them.

well as he never made it onto the front bench at least we wont be giving him a happy retirement.. ::)..

but as the missus ends up with a million in super he probably got himself into the best fund

this guy is up there with OBEID and Mcdonald..

worse than scum..

A union official stealing from members is about as low as it gets.

Hope they throw the book at him.

Peter Freedman wrote on Oct 22^nd, 2013 at 8:47am:

A union official stealing from members is about as low as it gets. Hope they throw the book at him.

$5 million he did more than steal...

he paid himself almost $600.000 thats without all the fringe benefits..

now hes pleading poor.. >:( >:( >:(

Old Codger wrote on Oct 22^nd, 2013 at 7:11am:

Cunning as shithouse rats these socialists! OC

the ones that don't get caught go into the Labor Party.

Quote:

Cunning as shithouse rats these socialists!

Williamson was a behind the scenes thief .......

unlike the Libs who openly steal everyones money ..... not just working class Union members money ...

to give to their big business & rich mates who all belong to associations that for all intents & purposes operate as Unions.

The double standards & hypocrisy from the Libs is endless.

Gnads wrote on Oct 23^rd, 2013 at 6:48am:

Quote: Cunning as shithouse rats these socialists! Williamson was a behind the scenes thief ....... unlike the Libs who openly steal everyones money ..... not just working class Union members money ... to give to their big business & rich mates who all belong to associations that for all intents & purposes operate as Unions. The double standards & hypocrisy from the Libs is endless.

yeah thats right  :D

as opposed to labor trash giving it all to their union mates, their equally if not bigger business mates and all other green and ecotard rich mates, carpet baggers, socially progressive institutions and any other leftard with a 'cause' (of which there is no shortage).

Rider wrote on Oct 23^rd, 2013 at 6:58am:

Gnads wrote on Oct 23rd, 2013 at 6:48am: Quote: Cunning as shithouse rats these socialists! Williamson was a behind the scenes thief ....... unlike the Libs who openly steal everyones money ..... not just working class Union members money ... to give to their big business & rich mates who all belong to associations that for all intents & purposes operate as Unions. The double standards & hypocrisy from the Libs is endless. yeah thats right  :D as opposed to labor trash giving it all to their union mates, their equally if not bigger business mates and all other green and ecotard rich mates, carpet baggers, socially progressive institutions and any other leftard with a 'cause' (of which there is no shortage).

LOL.. it was Hawke that gave money to BHP..Newcastle....

BER was another good one.. keep the builders labourers  happy..at all costs..

dont worry about the shonkies or the fact we never got value for money

Old Codger wrote on Oct 22^nd, 2013 at 7:11am:

Cunning as shithouse rats these socialists! OC

Are they more or less shifty than the capitalists running business. You know the types, the Richard Pratts, the Jodee Richs, the Rodney Adlers.

Corrupt corporates abound in this country. We can look to bribery scandals of Securency and the Australian Wheatboard, we can also look at the spectacular collapse of companies like Chartwell.


Yes, greed affects all parts of our society, and we need strong scrutiny and stern punishments to deter this cancer on our society.

The funny thing is Brandis getting sanctimonious over someone stealing  ...... Pot meet Kettle