Jacksonville

WELCOME TO JACKSONVILLE

Independent Australia, through investigative blogger Peter Wicks, along with managing editor David Donovan, have undertaken a comprehensive investigation into the HSU affair, involving former Labor MP Craig Thomson, HSU official Kathy Jackson and various other players.

This dedicated Jacksonville page will be updated as new information comes to light and articles are published. It is arranged in reverse chronological order.

To skip directly to a full compilation of the original source material uncovered in our enquiries, please click here.

THE LATEST NEWS

NEW!! (21/5/13) Jacksonville 50: ‘Every breath you’ Kate
Peter Wicks reports on Kate McClymont’s continuing vendetta against Craig Thomson and provides more revelations about Kathy Jackson and Michael Williamson.

(17/5/13) Jacksonville 49: Time inside
Peter Wicks issues a wedding related correction and reports on the latest news about Craig Thomson and Kathy Jackson.

 

THE HSU INVESTIGATIONS

(6/5/13) Jacksonville 48: What a way to win a Walkley
Fairfax “investigative journalist” Kate McClymont won a Walkley Award for a story on the HSU and Craig Thomson; Peter Wicks shows why it wasn’t worth a cracker.

(30/4/13) Jacksonville 47: The Craig Thomson defence
Craig Thomson has needed to launch an appeal to fund his legal defence; meanwhile the under investigation Kathy Jackson swans off to America and Europe. Peter Wicks reports.

(26/4/13) Jacksonville 46: One step closer
Craig Thomson moved a step closer towards exoneration today, with Fair Work Australia backing away from its allegations against the Independent MP. Peter Wicks reports.

(8/4/13) Jacksonville 45: She don’t like…
More highly charged revelations about former HSU king-pin Kathy Jackson and her cronies have been uncovered by ace investigating blogger Peter Wicks.

(21/2/13) Jacksonville 44: Scooping the bottom of the barrel
More information has been leaked by the police to intrepid reporter Steve Lewis about their Craig Thomson “investigation”. Peter Wicks reports.

(14/2/13) Jacksonville 43: Michael Smith responds
Peter Wicks has been chatting to Michael Smith and had an entirely amiable conversation about Craig Thomson’s arrest and Jacksonville.

(12/2/13) Jacksonville 42: Craig Thomson in the land of Shock-Jock
Peter Wicks investigates the murky role of sacked shock-jock – and former Victorian Police officer – Michael Smith, in the Craig Thomson affair.

(6/2/13) Jacksonville 41: The missing witnesses
Peter Wicks reports on Craig Thomson’s court appearance in Melbourne today and reveals more about his dodgy arrest and outrageous bail conditions.

(4/2/13) Jacksonville 40: Police lies and stitch ups
As Independent Australia suspected, no warrant was issued for Craig Thomson’s arrest in December. Here, Peter Wicks produces more troubling revelations.

(1/2/13) Jacksonville 39: The engineered arrest of Craig Thomson
NSW Police engineered a situation where Thomson needed to be strip searched, reports Peter Wicks, and were unlucky not to get him to spend a night in gaol.

(31/1/13) Jacksonville 38: The odd and illegal arrest of Craig Thomson
The NSW Police appear to have broken the law in arresting Craig Thomson today. And why did they need to strip search him? Managing editor David Donovan reports.

(23/1/13) Jacksonville 37: The slow myopic arm of the law
Peter Wicks is bewildered as why police are taking so long to investigate Kathy Jackson — and why only Michael Williamson appears to be in their sights.

(20/12/12) Jacksonville 36: Derailing the Jacksonville Express
Marco Bolano has just conceded defeat in the Victorian HSU Number 1 branch elections, meaning the Jackson faction has failed in all three branches. Peter Wicks reports.

(20/12/12) Jacksonville 35: Another failed fishing expedition
More vindication at Jacksonville, as the FWA’s fishing expedition against Craig Thomson’s nets nothing more than a soggy boot. Peter Wicks reports.

(18/12/12) Jacksonville 34: Dirty deeds
The tactics used by both major factions in the Victorian HSU Number 1 Branch elections have been a downright disgrace, says Peter Wicks.

(8/12/12) Jacksonville 33: Inspecting Lewis
News Ltd’s Steve Lewis strikes again, reports Peter Wicks, as things go off the rails in the Victorian HSU election. Never a dull moment in Jacksonville!

(28/11/12) Jacksonville 32: The winner takes it all
The results are in for the HSU’s NSW and Victorian Number 3 branches — and it’s great news for the members. Peter Wicks reports.

(26/11/12) Jacksonville 31: Cleansweep wins HSU No 3 elections
The Jacksonville ticket suffers a blow in the HSU elections, with the reforming Cleansweep team of Craig McGregor living up to its name. Peter Wicks reports.

(19/11/12) Jacksonville 30: The best of friends
Kathy Jackson accepts a deal with the HSU Administrator to repay $173,000, effectively admitting she fleeced funds from HSU members. Peter Wicks reports.

(30/10/12) Jacksonville 29: Williamson to face more charges tomorrow
IA sources revealed first that former HSU boss Michael Williamson was to face additional charges from Strikeforce Carnarvon when he appeared in court on 31/10/12. Peter Wicks reports.

(29/10/12) Jacksonville 28: Media loses credit over claims
Peter Wicks discusses the woes of the mainstream press, before making some “game-changing” revelations regarding the credit card claims against Craig Thomson.

(22/10/12) Jacksonville 27: The Jackson Five
With the HSU election campaigns in full swing, The Jackson Five are playing the tune, ably supported by their media backing act. Peter Wicks reports.

(3/10/12) Jacksonville 26: Michael Williamson to be charged
In BREAKING NEWS, Independent Australia has been reliably informed that Michael Williamson is to be charged tomorrow morning in connection with the Health Services Union scandal. Peter Wicks reports.

(13/9/12) Jacksonville 25: Don’t go breaking her Hart
Back in Jacksonville, Katrina Hart may have overstepped and completely missed the mark in a clumsy bid to prepare the path for her mentor Kathy Jackson to take over the NSW branch of the HSU. Peter Wicks reviews the upcoming HSU elections.

(31/8/12) Jacksonville 24: Little boxes
Peter Wicks reveals exclusive details of the complaint made by HSU official Carol Glen to the president of Fair Work Australia concerning Michael Lawler’s interference in HSU affairs.

(27/8/12) Jacksonville 23: Things can only get better
Self-proclaimed “whistleblower” Kathy Jackson has been dumped from the HSU and charges are to be laid against her for breach of Union regulations. Peter Wicks reports.

(22/8/12) #22: Vindication at Jacksonville
The KPMG report into Fair Work Australia’s investigation into the HSU is vindication for some — and a cream pie in the face for others; a smiling Peter Wicks reports.

(20/8/12) Jacksonville 21: The puppet show
Peter Wicks unearths explosive documents showing HSU East auditor Ian Temby QC intentionally ignored any allegations of corruption not connected to Michael Williamson.

(8/8/12) Jacksonville 20: A Lawler unto themselves
Back in Jacksonville, there are more revelations about Kathy Jackson and her partner Michael Lawler’s “interesting” activities at the HSU. Of course, Peter Wicks believes it’s all just “circumstantial”.

(1/8/12) Jacksonville 19: HSU moves on, question marks over FWA
As progress is made today in cleaning up the HSU, Peter Wicks turns his gaze towards that other apparently “compromised” organisation, Fair Work Australia.

(30/7/12) Jacksonville 18: Kathy Jackson and the real Marco Bolano
When he read the moving tale of brave whistleblower Marco Bolano in the Herald on Saturday, Peter Wicks nearly choked on his cornflakes. Here he tells the real story of Jacksonville’s “good people”, including Kathy Jackson’s astonishing activities just prior to the police raid on the HSU offices in May.

(27/7/12) Jacksonville 17: The Wixxy Report
Peter Wicks found the Temby Report into the HSU rather disappointing — so he has produced his own “Wixxy Report”, which is shorter, cheaper, more informative and far more entertaining.

(24/7/12) Jacksonville 16: Call me anytime
Back in Jacksonville, Peter Wicks has some new revelations, including details about who Kathy Jackson had been in contact with on her official HSU phone.

(7/7/12) Jacksonville 15: Welcome to Williamson
We’ve been talking about Jackson, but what about Williamson? Peter Wicks introduces another colourful resident of the Jacksonville conurbation.

(2/7/12) Jacksonville 14: Baby you can drive my car
The plot thickens in Jacksonville as the bank trace on the $22,000 meant to have be transferred to Wai Quen Chan in Hong Kong for legal fees comes back — and points to an Australian car dealer’s account. Peter Wicks reports.

(20/6/12) Jacksonville 13: How to frustrate a judge
In breaking news, Peter Wicks says Kathy Jackson may have already breached orders from the Federal Court — and details more decidedly suspect HSU payments.

(18/6/12) Jacksonville 12: Trouble in Jacksonville
Independent Australia has been leaked an unprecedented amount of new material, much of which suggests there may have been a massive misappropriation of HSU members’ funds — allegedly by Jeff and Kathy Jackson. Peter Wicks reports.

(12/6/12) Jacksonville 11: The forgotten Jackson and the comeback kid
Investigative blogger Peter Wicks reveals more suspicious HSU payments and introduces another Jackson into the saga — Kathy Jackson’s former husband, Jeff Jackson.

(8/6/12) Thomson 10: The best job in Jacksonville
Just when you think that the HSU saga could not become more surreal, Peter Wicks uncovers some other residents of “Jacksonville” that have questions to answer from Union members.

(7/6/12) Thomson 9: You are now entering Jacksonville
After two disastrous days in the Federal Court and the categorical retraction by the prostitute put forward by A Current Affair as having slept with Craig Thomson, Peter Wicks says Kathy Jackson’s stories appear to be unravelling at rather a rapid rate.

(1/6/12) Thomson 8: The HSU family
More documents from the HSU have surfaced, raising new and very serious questions about the financial probity of Kathy Jackson’s administration. Peter Wicks continues his investigation.

(31/5/12) Thomson 7: Credit card slips, clarifications and truth bombs
Peter Wicks reviews the evidence against Craig Thomson, speaks to the HSU auditor and considers Kathy Jackson response to this series of reports.

(29/9/12) Thomson 6: Kathy Jackson and the HSU $½ million
Another ground-breaking investigative report from Peter Wicks shows evidence of huge unexplained payments being made to HSU “whistleblower” Kathy Jackson — as Craig Thomson’s so-called “conspiracy theories” begin to look more and more believable.

(25/5/12) Thomson and Jackson 5: Sticky fingers
She spoke out not to get Craig Thomson MP, she said, but to clean up the HSU. But, in a stunning IA exclusive, Peter Wicks uncovers compelling documentary evidence to suggest HSU “whistleblower” Kathy Jackson may have herself misappropriated Union funds.

(22/5/12) #4: Craig Thomson under the rain
After Craig Thomson’s speech to Parliament, many in the media and Opposition side of politics have gone back to their roles as judge, jury and executioner. Peter Wicks looks at some of the discrepancies — in the stories of his accusers.

(20/5/12) #3: Craig Thomson’s kangaroo court
After Craig Thomson’s speech to Parliament, many in the media and Opposition side of politics have gone back to their roles as judge, jury and executioner. Peter Wicks looks at some of the discrepancies — in the stories of his accusers.

(17/5/12) #2: The Jackson and Lawler HSU tangle: Part Two
Peter Wicks reports on more murky events involving HSU union boss “whistleblower” Kathy Jackson, and the Vice President of the organisation charged with investigating her serious claims against Craig Thomson MP — her partner, Michael Lawler.

(16/5/12) #1: How Jackson, Lawler and Abbott tangled Thomson with the HSU
There are many suspicious features about Craig Thomson’s Health Services Union imbroglio, but notable among them are the apparently close links between HSU “whistleblower” Kathy Jackson and Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott. Peter Wicks uncovers a very tangled web.

OPINION AND MORE FROM JACKSONVILLE

(30/1/13) EXCLUSIVE: Craig Thomson opens up
In a stunning exclusive, Craig Thomson speaks to @GenGusface on a range of matters, including the HSU, his achievements in the NSW seat of Dobell and on whether he’ll run again in the Federal election called today by PM Julia Gillard for September 14.

(30/11/12) On trial with News Ltd
Our faith in the mainstream media is being sorely tested at the moment — and even more so now press watchdog has condemned one of its own. Peter Wicks reports.

(5/11/12) Jacksonville McJournalism
In Jacksonville, when certain journalists are proven utterly wrong and totally unfair, they don’t apologise or correct the record – they don’t even miss a beat – they just keep on smearing. Peter Wicks reports.

(27/10/12) Into New Jacksonville with Team Bolano
If Marco Bolano can promote himself as “new” in the HSU election campaign, then words really mean nothing anymore, says Peter Wicks.

(24/10/12) Jacksonville: Every breath you take
After the police / media raid on Craig Thomson, Peter Wicks asks ― what the f#$% is going on with the media in this country?

15/10/12) Strange days in Jacksonville
Today, Fair Work Australia launched civil action against Craig Thomson based on a flawed investigation that has already been totally discredited. Peter Wicksreports.

(13/10/12) The Jacksonville News
The Australian newspaper has waded into Jacksonville factional politics, smearing the “cleanskin” opponents of the Kathy Jackson faction. Peter Wicks reports.

(5/10/12) The sage of Jacksonville
The sage of Jacksonville, Peter Wicks, reports on what’s gone on in the wake of Michael Williamson’s arrest on Thursday.

(24/8/12) Jacksonville ethics: The presumption of innocence
Ace investigative blogger Peter Wicks sends an open letter to Senators Brandis and Abetz, asking them to explain their inconsistent attitude towards the presumption of innocence.

(9/8/12) How Jacksonville junked mainstream media credibility
It takes a very special talent to studiously ignore 20 investigative stories replete with primary documentary evidence strongly suggesting corruption and wrongdoing. Vince O’Grady discusses the mainstream media’s epic failure to properly report on the Craig Thomson / HSU / Jacksonville affair.

(2/8/12) The Jacksonville code of conduct
FWA president Iain Ross needs to explain exactly what happened for his organisation to now urgently need a new code of conduct, says Peter Wicks.

(12/7/12) Jacksonville oddjobs
Peter Wicks reports on a laughably fifth-rate smear campaign conducted by one of the town’s far rightwing fringe dwellers.

(30/6/12) Journey to Lawler Creek
We’ve all heard a lot about Jacksonville, but have you ever been to nearby Lawler Creek? Tour-guide Peter Wicks takes us for a day trip.

(27/6/12) Jacksonville: HSU members slave to the wage
In the whole highly politicised Jacksonville saga, a part of the story that seems almost forgotten is that of the individual HSU members, who are some of the most poorly paid people in the country, yet do vital – and often hard, demeaning and dangerous – work in hospitals and aged care facilities right around our country. Here, Peter Wicks offers a moving account of what some individual HSU members confront on a daily basis – at work and home – and how distressing it must be to them to discover how their precious money is being spent by some Union officials.

(26/6/12) IA’s Jacksonville investigation picked up by ABC and AAP
After over a month of detailed reporting by Peter Wicks and Independent Australia into Jacksonville – Kathy Jackson / HSU scandal – some of the investigation’s information has been published in an article by the ABC’s chief political correspondent, Simon Cullen — along with a specific acknowledgement of Independent Australia as the source.

(22/6/12) Jacksonville Federal Court
Peter Wicks records a day in the Federal Court, which included meeting the beleaguered HSU “whistleblower” Kathy Jackson.

(15/6/12) Map of Jacksonville
Now, Jacksonville is a confusing place if you don’t know your way around — so we have come up with the following Jacksonville “street-map” , so you can look at all the twists and turns and inter-relationships in the craziest town you’ll ever visit.

(6/6/12) A strange journey to Jacksonville
Investigative blogger Peter Wicks responds to Kathy Jackson’s latest attempts, in The Australian, to smear his reputation and smokescreen the facts.

(5/6/12) Thomson truth clouded by News Corp slant and smear
Independent Australia managing editor David Donovan corrects the record regarding a highly unbalanced and unethical article published in The Australian today about Peter Wicks and IA’s coverage of the Thomson/HSU affair.

JACKSON

Special new lyrics written by Denise Allen:

ALL: They got together in a conspiracy hotter than a brothel pro
Now we’re  talkin’ ’bout Jackson
Ever since the truth came out
MICHAEL: I’m goin’ to Jackson, I’m gonna mess around (yeah?)
Yeah, I’m goin’ to Jackson, look out Jackson town

KATHY: Well, come on down to Jackson, go ahead and wreck your life
Come play your hand, you big-talkin’ man, make a big fool of yourself
Yeah, yeah, come down to Jackson, come on into my lair
MICHAEL: I’m gonna snowball Jackson
KATHY: Come on…. see if I care

MICHAEL: When I breeze inta that city, the people gonna stoop and bow (ha ha)
She’s gonna teach ‘me what I don’t know how-ow-ow
I’m goin’ to Jackson, cos she’s a sneaky turn coat
I’m goin’ to Jackson
KATHY: Hello you gullible goat

KATHY: They’ll laugh at you in Jackson (I doubt it)
And I’ll be dancin’ on a pony keg
I’ll lead you ’round that town like a scalded hound
With your tail tucked between your legs
Yeah, yeah, yeah, come to Jackson, you big-talkin’ man
And I’ll be waitin’ there in Jackson behind my *Japan* fan

BOTH: We got together in a conspiracy hotter than a brothel pro
Now they’re  talkin’ ’bout Jackson ever since the truth came out
Come to Jackson you wont find a single fact
Yeah come to Jackson, we’ll stab ya in the back

BOTH: We got together in a conspiracy hotter than a brothel pro…
[FADE]
Now we’re talkin’ ’bout Jackson
Ever since the truth came out..yeah yeah…come to Jackson….

(With sincere apologies and respect to Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood.)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Australia License