A jailed union boss described as 'parasitic' by a sentencing judge is threatening to derail Labor's bid for power in Australia's biggest state.

Michael Williamson was jailed in 2014 for stealing $1million from the Health Services Union, and was on a $500,000-a-year salary when he splurged money on water view holiday homes and a six-bedroom Sydney house near the beach - with money from low-paid hospital workers.

Now the former union boss and former Labor national president is threatening to derail New South Wales Labor leader Michael Daley's bid to become the state's next Premier.

Labor's chance of returning to power on March 23, after eight years in the political wilderness, is under threat following revelations Mr Daley, as a deputy mayor, voted to approve an extension to a beachside Maroubra house, in Sydney's south-east, previously owned by Williamson.

Mr Daley's vote for the first-floor extension was against the advice of Randwick City Council's planning committee, which in early 2001 recommended that development application be refused.

For the first time Mr Daley has admitted he had voted to approve an extension on Williamson's beachside home at Maroubra against the advice of a council planning committee he chaired.

For the first time Mr Daley has admitted he had voted to approve an extension on Williamson's beachside home at Maroubra against the advice of a council planning committee he chaired.

'At the time, I would have known Michael Williamson as a senior member of the Labor Party and union movement,' he said.

'I had no association with him outside Labor Party functions and did not associate with him privately.'

Council documents, obtained by The Australian, show the Health, Building and Planning Committee had misgivings about the plan to extend the first floor over the garage in Maroubra.

This committee, which Mr Daley chaired, recommended the development application be deferred so there could be a site inspection.

Mr Daley has denied he acted inappropriately.

'In my 23 years in public life, I have always acted with integrity and propriety,' Mr Daley said in a statement on Monday.

Rest of article at link.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6740727/Labor-leader-Michael-Daley-voted-extension-jailed-union-boss-Michael-Williamsons-house.html

Williams is a convicted criminal and jailbird. He is not likely to be taken seriously.

If voters looked at the individual behaviour of
some politicians - and blamed their political party's
for the individual behaviour of those people - the
parties would certainly be in trouble.

This type of behaviour is another good reason we need
more transparency and an investigative body into corruption.

cont'd ...

Will the recent behaviour of Mathias Cormann,
Joe Hockey,
Ms Cash, and others turn people off?

We'll have to wait and see.

Mathias Cormann,
Joe Hockey,
Ms Cash, and others turn people off?
Foxy,
It has big time for a long time already. These people won't be in the Coalition for much longer.
Sadly, the worst offenders in the top public service positions don't get exposed in either Govt.
In the lower ranks the majority of public servants are labor supporters. So, it shouldn't come as a big surprise that things are the way they are.
Problems can't be solved by putting problems in charge of the problems.

I doubt whether the swamp will be drained. The abc like the bbc in Britian will only ever focus on anyone standing against thier putried dogmas. Look at what Shorten has got away with over the years. Remember they spent a week talking about Abbott punching the air 40 years ago and how much he hates women while Shorten's serious charges went all but unreported. Look at the fake news regarding Trump they dream up daily while ignoring Obama who on a number of occassions had the same policies. The media will ensure champions of the filthy marxist feminist ideology are protected.

Yes NewsCorp certainly does have a lot to answer.
That's why programs like " Media Watch," and
independent news outlets are good for democracy.

Foxy,
condemning integrity & lifting deceitful vindictiveness onto a pedestal is off !

Great thread thanks for sharing.

independent news outlets are good for democracy.
Foxy,
Agree, so how can we go about becoming a Democracy ?