Royal commission into union corruption to examine HSU allegations (ABC)

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The Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption is underway in Sydney and has today begun hearings focusing on allegations of corruption in the Health Services Union (HSU).

Eight people are expected to give evidence at the four-day hearing. The first witness to be called is the former HSU assistant state secretary Mark Hardacre, who ran against disgraced former Labor Party president Michael Williamson in 1999.

Counsel Assisting, Jeremy Stoljar SC, has told the royal commission the evidence will detail intimidation tactics used by officials trying to cover-up corrupt conduct.

"The tactics ranged from the petty such as the whistleblower or rival sitting at a desk facing the wall outside the office of the very person against whom allegations had been raised, to unrelenting hostility in meetings and the workplace," he said.

"These tactics succeeded because in addition to the ringleader's own conduct, he or she also enlisted the support of many other officials and members."

HSU whistleblower Kathy Jackson is also among witnesses being called this week to give evidence.

Ms Jackson is the union's national secretary and reported allegations about former union boss and ex-Federal MP Craig Thomson and Williamson to police.

Allegations that Ms Jackson ran a slush fund have been sent to the royal commission.

In April, the HSU's number-three branch in Victoria said an investigation of internal banking records showed large sums of money were transferred into an account which operated from 2004 to 2010.

Mr Stoljar told the royal commission when Ms Jackson took over as national secretary from Thomson, after his election to Federal Parliament, she happened upon bank statements for the credit cards which ultimately became the subject of the criminal proceedings against Thomson.

"On or around 24 August 2011, the national executive resolved to refer the allegations against Mr Thomson to the NSW Police," Mr Stoljar said.

"That evening Ms Jackson appeared on the ABC TV program Lateline during which she publicly confirmed her belief in the veracity of the allegations against Mr Thomson. Within 48 hours someone left a shovel on Ms Jackson's home porch."

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24245760/royal-commission-into-union-corruption-to-examine-hsu-allegations/