Labor
HSU SNAFU: ALP delegates will be next battleground in the HSU war
The HSU snafu has been reported in the Victorian edition of the Australian today.
Union brawl shakes Labor
By Rick Wallace, Victorian political report
THE explosive row in the Health Services Union, which has been referred to police, could reshape the delicate balance of power in Victorian Labor politics.
VEXNEWS: It should be noted that we also seriously contemplating referring yesterday’s dodgy umpiring decisions against Essendon to the Police. The attempt to criminalise an internal union dispute is certainly the most unfortunate aspect of this debacle.
The committee of management of the union’s No1 branch, controlled by president Pauline Fegan, has moved to strip secretary Jeff Jackson of the ability to appoint delegates to the ALP’s state conference.
Mr Jackson is a powerful player in the Right faction, who has waged a war against the faction’s traditional leadership, including federal Labor politicians Bill Shorten and Stephen Conroy.
If the committee’s ruling stood, sources in the Right said, HSUA delegates who normally supported senator David Feeney would transfer their allegiance to Mr Shorten and the other side of the divided Right faction.
VEXNEWS: Or possibly to the CFMEU Construction division which now seeks an alliance with the NUW.
The union appoints about 20 delegates to the ALP’s state conference — about 5 per cent of the total.
VEXNEWS: We understand there are 600 delegates to state conference and the HSU #1 branch is about 2% of it, there are 5 different branches, not all affiliated to the ALP.
The potential power shift comes at a vital time for the ALP as the part of the Right that supports Mr Shorten and Senator Conroy has aligned itself with the Socialist Left to create a majority, leaving Mr Feeney and others out in the cold.
VEXNEWS: Senator Feeney has apparently taken this “out in the cold” thing literally and is believed to be suffering from the flu today. Please direct electronic get well soon cards to senator.feeney@aph.gov.au.
The conference also elects representatives to the ALP’s powerful national executive, and any power shift may affect that body.
VEXNEWS: Well spotted by Rick Wallace here, that is probably the reason why the appointment of the delegates will be the subject of litigation. The HSU was a crucial part of the quota that elected NUW boss Charlie Donnelly to the National Executive last time. Whether Donnelly is giving up his position to his ally Senator Feeney as some had anticipated or not, every vote usually counts in that contest.
Some are also concerned that it might become Victoria’s “turn” within the National Right to elect a woman to represent it on the National Executive as the West Australians have done this for a couple of elections.
Mr Jackson said the branch committee’s ruling was just empty rhetoric and the union’s rules said the secretary was the only official with the power to appoint delegates to the ALP conference, which will be convened next in June.
VEXNEWS: It is certainly tradition in many unions for the secretary to nominate the delegates, with some kind of ratification or endorsement coming from their BCOM. Not many unions would have rules expressly setting this out though. The ALP’s Rule 6.3.4 provides that each union affiliate has to provide delegates in accordance with the union’s own rules so it seems certain it will be resolved in court, as many HSU decisions have been lately.
It is believed peace talks are progressing between Senator Feeney and Mr Shorten, aimed at healing the rift that developed in the lead-up to the split in the Right, and in the three months since.
VEXNEWS: Peace is brewing, next thing we’ll hear, they’ll have gone kayaking again. Or perhaps a hunting trip with Dick Cheney.
Any party-wide peace deal on preselections and other issues would make the issue of who controlled the HSUA’s pile of votes not quite a moot point, but not as crucial as it might be.
VEXNEWS: It’s probably the least important priority for both Fegan and Jackson at this stage.
The HSUA’s No1 branch has been racked by the bitter power struggle between Mr Jackson and Ms Fegan, and the audit is a result of a string of claims and counterclaims between the pair.
Ms Fegan’s camp is accusing Mr Jackson of misappropriating funds, which he denies.
He is accusing Ms Fegan of channelling $150,000 of union money through her husband’s company (a merchandise supplier to the union), which she denies.
In an audit commissioned by Ms Fegan’s camp and handed to police, auditor Stephen Whitchurch of Pitcher Partners criticises the No1 branch over unauthorised payments, unsubstantiated expenses and the apparent lack of rival bids for the merchandise tender.
IN A VEXNEWS FIRST, NO COMMENTS MAKING UNSUBSTANTIATED CLAIMS OR PERSONAL ATTACKS WILL BE ACCEPTED ON THIS STORY
Discussion
45 comments for “HSU SNAFU: ALP delegates will be next battleground in the HSU war”
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The members will be having their say on Wednesday night following a decision in the courts today which refused an injunction sought by Fegan. Jackson again has the whip hand.
Fight Night!!! I can’t wait. I will be there. Fingers inserted(err, i mant crossed) that Jeff wins that battle.
Seeing that picture brings back memories.
I agree Adolf. HSU conferences are always fun. Lines of cocaine and lines of ho’s.
Get ready for Wednesday night FAT GIRL
I say I think Marco Magic may be a demented old English woman from out Ringwood way.
She is surely looking forward to her writ, the disgusting old liar.
Be assured the person serving the writ doesn’t believe in out of court settlements, or middle ground. He’ll be after her home.
I think Mr Wallace hasn’t quite got his facts straight. Fegan HAS NOT denied that she has funneled $150,000 of HSU money to her husband’s business.
Fegan has admitted she has done so, and thinks it’s OK to have her snout planted firmly in the trough. She has admitted it(confessed) in Affidavits, Auditors acting under her instruction have revealed it, and she has admitted it in a recent interview with John Faine. Please follow the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMBmKOMNlbw
Marco Magic aka Sonia or is that you Fegan? You are a pair of sick individuals. For the record Jeff will win on Wednesday, good will always triumph over evil. You and your puppets are going down.
You are finished on Wednesday lady fat
It’s bad to sponsor support for the ungodly Barack Obama!
As I watch Putin from my Alaskan frontier, I can also see the Aussies coming.
We are kindred spirits Pauline.
Wow Pauline, you do interviews as well as I do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMBmKOMNlbw
In the spirit of Vexnews, let me say once and for all, I did not have sexual relations with that woman.
This whole pay-yourself-whatever-you-like caper sounds like a great little earner to me. Where do I sign up?
Sorry Bernie, its like defined benefit super schemes. It closed off after I joined
Interesting that the day the HSU audit report in realised in the papers Katrina Papadolouiou Jackson comes out and attacks the state government.
Thanks for the ‘campaign donation’, Jeff. Rest assured I’ll be doing everything I can to help out the Victorian HSU – it’s a top priority.
OK I will go, I have been offered ongoing work at the Gorilla Biscuit plant.
STOP PRESS!!!!
POLICE CLEAR JACKSON.
After the briefest fraud investigation in human history, the Police have cleared Jeff Jackson.
Their investigation amounted to reading the Audit, which did not and never did indicate any wrongdoing by Jackson.
Jackson is innocent….a naughty Minister told me so
Ashby this is another fine mess you have got me into! I hope we get a room with a view. For the first week you can bend over and be Nancy.
Don’t forget my soap-on a rope, Master
Yes Fegan, Jackson has been cleared by the police, Game over!
STOP PRESS!!!!
Fegan forces Michael May to do a days work handing out shit sheets!
Byron still missing
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[deleted] is the mystery gay prostitute hiring MP.
He could have had me for free.
Remeber when Mullett, the head of an ALP-assocaited union, was going to be offered Liberal Party preslection by Fatty Doyle?
I feel sorry for everyone attached to the hsu. god help this morally bankrupt, rudderless organisation. it’s all about the cash, jobs with no output, getting cheap headlines, and supporting people’s lifestyles. You are all considered a laughing stock and are embarassment on the union movement. I feel sorry for all hsu members. They should just join the nurses union. that way they might get looked after
Dear Anon,
Thought the editor said
IN A VEXNEWS FIRST, NO COMMENTS MAKING UNSUBSTANTIATED CLAIMS OR PERSONAL ATTACKS WILL BE ACCEPTED ON THIS STORY
what in the hell had this person got to do with this. Do not mind, I have saved a copy and will send to him with the name of the person who sent it.
Irene you couldn’t help yourself! If you haven’t guessed this issue is bigger than you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go and have another fag!!!!!!
Fatty Doyle’s choice of Fish Mullett was brilliant. Who better to defend the Menzies Legacy than the head of a Trades Hall affiliated union and an ALP lackey?
Remember, Menzies accepted many a brief from unions on IR matters.
I believe Irene knows it is all not about her she is gone. The issue is the union and the ALP which you seem intent on distroying,what Langdon has to do with it is unbelievable – you have an agenda and have had for 15 years
and will not let go of it. Get a life
Jenny Mulholland Joins the Liberal Party
Pls call me Ollie. I get an erection when I hear your dulcet tones.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMBmKOMNlbw
She sounds a lot like Pauline Hanson.
No! She sounds like me.
So what if someones hired a gay prostitute
I listened to the interview…you could hear her sphincter twitching!
Go Jeff show your loyal supporters what HSU is all about.. Caring for health care workers
Good luck Jeff at your meeting tonight I cant be there but my thoughts are with you
There was a heroin addicted drug dealer called Shelly.
Who used to trade in drugs and stolen goods, whilst neglecting her children.
I myself used to purchase her drugs and stolen goods.
And my name is…………………
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMBmKOMNlbw
Nice photo of jacksons trained monkey. Hudson. Where his dog Bolano?
Hey ringmaster, why dont you call Bolano and find out where he is?