A Labor Party branch stacker linked to leader Bill Shorten has left Australia for Lebanon and failed to turn up to be quizzed at the Royal Commission into trade union corruption today.

Health Service Union campaign manager David Asmar was due to be questioned about receiving part of a $100,000 election payment from a slush fund controlled by embattled Victorian MP Cesar Melham.

Last year under-fire HSU whistle blower Kathy Jackson accused Mr Shorten of handing Mr Asmar thousands of dollars in cash to pay for union memberships. A spokesman for Mr Shorten denied the allegations.

Counsel assisting the Commission Jeremy Stoljar, SC, said the commission put the Australian Federal Police on alert in September after it failed to serve a summons on Mr Asmar to attend a hearing.

On September 18 Mr Asmar arrived at Melbourne airport. “When he sought to pass through customs the alert was triggered,” said Mr Stoljar.

Mr Asmar, husband of Victorian HSU secretary Diane Asmar, was served the summons and then flew on to Lebanon.

He failed to respond to the summons to appear today. The Commission was told that he was still in Lebanon and could not attend for medical reasons.

Mr Stoljar said the medical adviser could not be examined because he was also in Lebanon. “The Commission’s inquiries are continuing into this matter.”

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/trade-union-royal-commission-nuw-boss-derrick-belan-leaves-south-pacific-psychiatric-hospital-to-appears/story-fni0cx12-1227597639246

Might be a chance to cancel his passport and let him live out his days in the filth of the ME.

bogarde73 wrote on Nov 6^th, 2015 at 6:33am:

Might be a chance to cancel his passport and let him live out his days in the filth of the ME.

Good idea. Might e-mail Dutton with the suggestion! :)

Armchair_Politician wrote on Nov 6^th, 2015 at 6:34am:

bogarde73 wrote on Nov 6th, 2015 at 6:33am: Might be a chance to cancel his passport and let him live out his days in the filth of the ME. Good idea. Might e-mail Dutton with the suggestion! :)

HHMMM kill two bird with 1/2 a brick  ;D ;D ;D ;D

Armchair_Politician wrote on Nov 6^th, 2015 at 6:34am:

bogarde73 wrote on Nov 6th, 2015 at 6:33am: Might be a chance to cancel his passport and let him live out his days in the filth of the ME. Good idea. Might e-mail Dutton with the suggestion! :)

I agree .. hears another bastard..

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/royal-commission-paul-gibson-paid-300k-as-a-go-between-for-union-boss-and-sam-dastyari/story-fni0cx12-1227597900632

FORMER NSW Labor MP Paul Gibson was paid almost $300,000 to get a union boss and Labor Senator Sam Dastyari to talk to each other.

Mr Gibson yesterday told the royal commission into trade union corruption he received a $271,566 consultancy fee from the National Union of Workers to bring “harmony” to its relationship with the NSW Labor Party.

He said the arrangement was backed by former union state secretary Derrick Belan and Labor Senator Dastyari.


they live in a FANTASY world....almost $300.000 to TALK... ::) ::) ::) ::)

cods wrote on Nov 6^th, 2015 at 8:34am:

Armchair_Politician wrote on Nov 6th, 2015 at 6:34am: bogarde73 wrote on Nov 6th, 2015 at 6:33am: Might be a chance to cancel his passport and let him live out his days in the filth of the ME. Good idea. Might e-mail Dutton with the suggestion! :) I agree .. hears another bastard.. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/royal-commission-paul-gibson-paid-300k-as-a-go-between-for-union-boss-and-sam-dastyari/story-fni0cx12-1227597900632 FORMER NSW Labor MP Paul Gibson was paid almost $300,000 to get a union boss and Labor Senator Sam Dastyari to talk to each other. Mr Gibson yesterday told the royal commission into trade union corruption he received a $271,566 consultancy fee from the National Union of Workers to bring “harmony” to its relationship with the NSW Labor Party. He said the arrangement was backed by former union state secretary Derrick Belan and Labor Senator Dastyari. they live in a FANTASY world....almost $300.000 to TALK... ::) ::) ::) ::)

;D ;D the usual wonkers  jocular drunk, ,JS DNA and the rest will say money well spent  ;D ;D ;D ;D

Great result. A criminal Lebbo out of Australia. You beauty!!!

aussie100percent wrote on Nov 6^th, 2015 at 8:47am:

cods wrote on Nov 6th, 2015 at 8:34am: Armchair_Politician wrote on Nov 6th, 2015 at 6:34am: bogarde73 wrote on Nov 6th, 2015 at 6:33am: Might be a chance to cancel his passport and let him live out his days in the filth of the ME. Good idea. Might e-mail Dutton with the suggestion! :) I agree .. hears another bastard.. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/royal-commission-paul-gibson-paid-300k-as-a-go-between-for-union-boss-and-sam-dastyari/story-fni0cx12-1227597900632 FORMER NSW Labor MP Paul Gibson was paid almost $300,000 to get a union boss and Labor Senator Sam Dastyari to talk to each other. Mr Gibson yesterday told the royal commission into trade union corruption he received a $271,566 consultancy fee from the National Union of Workers to bring “harmony” to its relationship with the NSW Labor Party. He said the arrangement was backed by former union state secretary Derrick Belan and Labor Senator Dastyari. they live in a FANTASY world....almost $300.000 to TALK... ::) ::) ::) ::) ;D ;D the usual wonkers  jocular drunk, ,JS DNA and the rest will say money well spent  ;D ;D ;D ;D

its only members money... why care??.. look like anyone that belongs to a UNION is just an ATM in reality??  AMERICAN EXPRESS CARDS.. OMG..

poor old THOM O should have had one of those they would never have traced down the brothels...

He's gone and joined Hamas?

Maqqa wrote on Nov 6^th, 2015 at 9:49am:

He's gone and joined Hamas?

More likely Hezbollah, but the point is the same.

mariacostel wrote on Nov 6^th, 2015 at 11:25am:

Maqqa wrote on Nov 6th, 2015 at 9:49am: He's gone and joined Hamas? More likely Hezbollah, but the point is the same.

Do you seriously mean this? The most likely explanation is he hasn't gone to join anyone, but to avoid questioning.

Kytro wrote on Nov 6^th, 2015 at 12:29pm:

The most likely explanation is he hasn't gone to join anyone, but to avoid questioning.

Quite probably right. Who told him it was better to leave, so as not to implicate anyone?

lee wrote on Nov 6^th, 2015 at 12:35pm:

Kytro wrote on Nov 6th, 2015 at 12:29pm: The most likely explanation is he hasn't gone to join anyone, but to avoid questioning. Quite probably right. Who told him it was better to leave, so as not to implicate anyone?

It could be anyone with something to protect. Could have even been that he saw the writing on the wall.

Kytro wrote on Nov 6^th, 2015 at 12:39pm:

lee wrote on Nov 6th, 2015 at 12:35pm: Kytro wrote on Nov 6th, 2015 at 12:29pm: The most likely explanation is he hasn't gone to join anyone, but to avoid questioning. Quite probably right. Who told him it was better to leave, so as not to implicate anyone? It could be anyone with something to protect. Could have even been that he saw the writing on the wall.

Obviously the RC is working a treat if the rats are scurrying for cover.

It's possible for both corruption to exist and for it to be a political witch-hunt.

I doubt they'll pin that consultancy fee on anyone - just business as usual, no matter how much it stinks.  Capitalism at work there.... market forces in action.... privatisation of consulting means no work done by a clerical level worker on $1000 a week, in ten minutes...

It stinks - but is it illegal and corrupt?

Kytro wrote on Nov 6^th, 2015 at 12:29pm:

mariacostel wrote on Nov 6th, 2015 at 11:25am: Maqqa wrote on Nov 6th, 2015 at 9:49am: He's gone and joined Hamas? More likely Hezbollah, but the point is the same. Do you seriously mean this? The most likely explanation is he hasn't gone to join anyone, but to avoid questioning.

Wow...  do you ever recognise a light-hearted comment when it is made? Are you aware of the concept of 'humour'?  This is not the first time you'd done this. You can be a quite decent debate, but damn, you don't get any side-ways commentary or humour/satire/irony.

But just so we are clear since the meaning was not obvious (at least to you). No he didn't go join a terrorist group. Although some would say he left one. (Please, please misinterpret those sentences!)

mariacostel wrote on Nov 6^th, 2015 at 4:41pm:

Kytro wrote on Nov 6th, 2015 at 12:29pm: mariacostel wrote on Nov 6th, 2015 at 11:25am: Maqqa wrote on Nov 6th, 2015 at 9:49am: He's gone and joined Hamas? More likely Hezbollah, but the point is the same. Do you seriously mean this? The most likely explanation is he hasn't gone to join anyone, but to avoid questioning. Wow...  do you ever recognise a light-hearted comment when it is made? Are you aware of the concept of 'humour'?  This is not the first time you'd done this. You can be a quite decent debate, but damn, you don't get any side-ways commentary or humour/satire/irony. But just so we are clear since the meaning was not obvious (at least to you). No he didn't go join a terrorist group. Although some would say he left one. (Please, please misinterpret those sentences!)

I can't always tell  :P

Kytro wrote on Nov 6^th, 2015 at 4:46pm:

mariacostel wrote on Nov 6th, 2015 at 4:41pm: Kytro wrote on Nov 6th, 2015 at 12:29pm: mariacostel wrote on Nov 6th, 2015 at 11:25am: Maqqa wrote on Nov 6th, 2015 at 9:49am: He's gone and joined Hamas? More likely Hezbollah, but the point is the same. Do you seriously mean this? The most likely explanation is he hasn't gone to join anyone, but to avoid questioning. Wow...  do you ever recognise a light-hearted comment when it is made? Are you aware of the concept of 'humour'?  This is not the first time you'd done this. You can be a quite decent debate, but damn, you don't get any side-ways commentary or humour/satire/irony. But just so we are clear since the meaning was not obvious (at least to you). No he didn't go join a terrorist group. Although some would say he left one. (Please, please misinterpret those sentences!) I can't always tell  :P

;D ;D ;D ;D ;DI guessed!  I will in future insert the following...

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

This Thread not good enough for you Armpit?

Link.