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Former HSU boss to face appeal hearing

Former Health Services Union boss Michael Williamson has been listed to have his appeal against his sentence heard in August.

Former Health Services Union boss Michael Williamson
Former HSU boss Michael Williamson will face an appeal hearing against his sentence in August. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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Former HSU boss Michael Williamson will face an appeal hearing against his sentence in August.

Williamson was sentenced to at least five years in jail last year after "leeching" the Health Services Union (HSU) of almost $1 million and then recruiting others to hinder a police investigation.

He has lodged an appeal against his sentence and a hearing has been set down for August 19, the Court of Criminal Appeal heard on Thursday.

In sentencing Williamson in March last year, Judge David Frearson said he had "developed a reprehensible sense of entitlement" while at the union.

As general secretary from 1995 until 2012, Williamson hired and fired staff, and handsomely rewarded those loyal to him with increases in salaries significantly above industry levels.

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From 2005 to 2011, Williamson's own salary swelled from $290,757 to more than $513,000.

While on these bloated pay packets, Williamson began plundering the union's funds, the judge said last year.

Williamson directed the HSU to make numerous payments to the company CANME, without disclosing either his or his wife's stake in the business.

He also met with the director of the union's printing supplier to propose that he deliberately inflate his invoices to the union - with much of the difference coming back to Williamson.

Williamson went to extreme lengths to cover his tracks, erasing files and shredding documents.

He was jailed for a maximum of seven and a half years and is eligible for parole in March 2019.


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