View source for Kathy Jackson Spared Jail For Union Rorts

<br>Former Health Services Union boss Kathy Jackson has been spared jail for rorting more than $100,000 in member funds over seven years.<br> <br>Jackson used work credit cards and dodgy expense claims to cover up her systematic misuse of union money between 2003 and the end of 2010.<br> <br>The 52-year-old former national secretary was jailed in Victoria's County Court on Thursday for 24 months.<br> <br>But the sentence was wholly suspended for two-and-a-half years, meaning she doesn't have to serve any time if she's of good behaviour for that period.<br> <br>Judge Amanda Fox said Jackson selfishly used union member fees to fund her own [http://www.reddit.com/r/howto/search?q=lifestyle lifestyle].<br> <br>"It was motivated by greed, not need," the judge said.<br> <br>"Union members used part of their hard-earned money to pay union funds ... you betrayed this trust."<br> <br>Jackson became the head of the HSU's Victorian branch for allied health workers in 1996 and national secretary in 2008.<br> <br>In total, she misused $102,892.82, and pleaded guilty to and was convicted of a combined four counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception.<br> <br>Ironically,  [https://www.kynghidongduong.vn/tours/tour-bali-tour-du-lich-bali-indonesia-4-ngay-3-dem-tu-ha-noi-tu-sai-gon-hcm-may-bay.html kynghidongduong.vn] Jackson in 2011 blew the whistle on corruption by former HSU national secretary and federal Labor MP Craig Thomson, and ex-union general secretary Michael Williamson.<br> <br>Current HSU boss Lloyd Williams told the court the union's reputation had been "trashed", although he conceded not all of this was Jackson's fault.<br> <br>"For a period, the HSU became a byword for corruption," Mr Williams said in a statement.<br> <br>He added Jackson had never apologised to the union or its members for her misconduct.<br> <br>She spent to money on shopping trips to India and Hong Kong, and holidays to [https://www.kynghidongduong.vn/tours/tour-bali-tour-du-lich-bali-indonesia-4-ngay-3-dem-tu-ha-noi-tu-sai-gon-hcm-may-bay.html tour bali], the US and Europe with her children, then-husband Jeff and subsequent boyfriend Michael Lawler.<br> <br>In 2008, she used HSU funds to buy her husband a $22,000 Mercedes from a former union legal advisor, claiming the expense as research work and legal fees.<br> <br>The year before, Jackson arranged to be reimbursed twice for her attendance at an AEW Capital Management advisory board meeting in the US, on behalf of [http://www.superghostblogger.com/?s=industry%20super industry super] fund HESTA.<br> <br>She was already entitled to get money back from AEW, but double-dipped by wrongly claiming $13,100 in travel expenses from HSU.<br> <br>In 2009, Jackson claimed her purchase of a $4636 portrait by revered Australian artist Charles Blackman as conference and seminar costs.<br> <br>She hung the painting in her Balwyn home in Melbourne's east.<br> <br>Other fraudulent purchases included a $1650 home entertainment unit, a $576 gift basket for a friend and ex-union lawyer, and more than $1000 on CDs, DVDs and console games.<br> <br>Last month, Jackson admitted to two rolled-up charges of obtaining financial advantage by deception.<br> <br>This guilty plea meant her 2019 jury conviction for another two counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception could be reported.<br> <br>The same jury acquitted Jackson of 18 theft and two deception charges.<br> <br>Judge Fox said the intense media coverage of Jackson's case, particularly the publication of her children's details, amounted to a form of extra-curial punishment.<br> <br>Character references described her as a hard worker, and an energetic and determined advocate for members.<br> <br>"Kathy couldn't lie straighter in bed," said one read out in court.<br><br>Jackson's lawyer acknowledged the irony of the statement.<br>