A Sydney court has quashed the misconduct convictions of former NSW Labor minister Ian Macdonald, and long serving union representative John Maitland who had been behind bars since 2017. A retrial was ordered by the Court of Criminal Appeal. The panel was critical of the way the trial judge, Justice Christine Adamson, summed the case up for the jury.

Macdonald and Maitland were doomed by the Merdoch and other ring wing media because they are social and political Progressives. They hate the Labor party and Unions, and they wanted to nail high-ranking Labourites. Because of the sensationalism and hatred displayed by the media, they were never going to get a fair trial. Hopefully a retrial will reveal the absurdity of a conviction based on mere accusations and zero evidence.

"Hopefully a retrial will reveal the absurdity of a conviction based on mere accusations and zero evidence".

Hopefully the same thing will occur with Cardinal Pell who was also convicted on mere accusations and zero evidence.

Given Eddie Obeid's conduct, I'd have thought not having a competitive tender process problematic, especially as the licence was granted to a company chaired by a friend.

"A jury found he engaged in misconduct in public office by issuing the mine licence without a competitive tender to a company run by ex-union boss John Maitland.

Mr Macdonald had a non-parole period of seven years, while Mr Maitland was jailed for six years with a non-parole period of four for being an accessory.

The licence was issued in December 2008 by "direct allocation" when Mr Macdonald was the NSW minister for primary industries and resources.

Mr Maitland later earned $6 million from the sale of shares in the venture.

The Crown alleged the decision lost the state tens of millions of dollars at a time of budget restraint."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-25/ian-macdonald-wins-appeal-against-misconduct-conviction/10845314

I had been shocked and saddened myself by the original verdict against these two poor gentlemen. I thought identity politics gone mad, from what I heard Macdonald and Maitland were made out to have the criminal intent of an Al Capone from the Chicago mob.

Yes, I stand corrected Paul. Thoroughly decent fellows both. One would have to search as far afield as Venezuela to find a politician of equal integrity.

https://www.themonthly.com.au/nsw-labor-s-crooked-ways-mate-union-mark-aarons-7635

Fester,
Get rid of the 's' in 'https' and all is well.
https://www.themonthly.com.au/nsw-labor-s-crooked-ways-mate-union-mark-aarons-7635

thusly,

http://www.themonthly.com.au/nsw-labor-s-crooked-ways-mate-union-mark-aarons-7635

Paul1405,
Am surprised that you now support the upholding of an appeal by two men after they were found guilty in a court. Now you lay claim with, quote. "the absurdity of a conviction based on mere accusations and zero evidence".

Did you not say in another thread, something like "Pell was found guilty by a court and that is good enough for me"

This was after it was pointed out there was no evidence put by the prosecution and only accusations.

Your hypocrisy is something to behold

Paul, you will not like my view
Both the maggots should be charged and put right back in prison
That year they saw lifelong ALP members not man the booths, not vote LABOR
NEVER ever cop rats in the ranks, grubs using the party to profit
IF WE DO we are no better than this government
Jobs and grants for their mates is, *even worse* than the ALP rats in the ranks
Only the best should serve
These rats, the whole Obeid gang, are pure filth

Belly,

For once I'm in complete agreement.

It is never easy, taking the strap to my own party
It however would be gutless not to
That filthy rug we call solidarity, is used still
Thrown over such as these two, and the Obied filth
Yes I know the LNP are doing it too
But ask yourself about the THOUSANDS who covered up pedophils in Churches boy scouts anda host of things
They shame themselves
And not to call out the true filth we speak of here?
My job took me in to the office of more than one Minister
Will Not expand
But if we except filth, on any side of politics, we are not worth the air we breath

Hi Belly,

Good lord said the archbishop, in no way does your comment offend me. In fact a retrial might well see Macdonald and Maitland back behind bars. Do you notice this threads general lack of interest from the 'Usual Suspects' compared to the Archy Pell thread, where the mob are bemoaning the supposedly lack of justice for the Good Cardinal, one of their own, lets us pray!

The fact is this pair of reprobates have one up on the other aforementioned reprobate in that they, at this very moment at least, are considered "innocent", and they have done a couple of years in the slammer and are now free. No so the Good Cardinal he has been found guilty of a sickening crime against a child, he is in the slammer. No court of appeal at this time has quashed his conviction.

Its all very political and nothing to do with justice for anyone, would you agree?

Before a NSW election some years ago I read the 'Pell Letter', in which the Good Cardinal vented his spleen against the Greens, claiming a vote for the Greens was a vote for moral depravity, well, well, well, what can I say, the time has arrived.

Paul morning mate, yes indeed my thoughts are firm, some are so far right they are wrong, always
Mate you will see from my posts I often run aground even in my party
See we are as we must be, a big tent party
And yes our branches are to the left of the rest of the party
My wants and wishes for a fairer Australia would often mirror yours
BUT if we tried implementing some wishes we would be in exile forever
As You would know, center unity holds the reins , my faction
BUT filth is filth,we have been infected with them often
Right back to Rex Jackson and Wrann
They Had Askin
Dare not tell you what I know but true filth like these two, and others who fed off them,have no place in modern Labor, or Labor has no place in politics, after all we must be better than bottom feeders

Paul,

"Before a NSW election some years ago I read the 'Pell Letter', in which the Good Cardinal vented his spleen against the Greens, claiming a vote for the Greens was a vote for moral depravity, well, well, well, what can I say, the time has arrived."

He was right then no matter what has happened since.

Paul forgive ismise he is unable to feel, or at least express, any pain for the rape victims
Yes we have been sent to coventry, in my case it is self imposed
A day may come when some one looks back and see,s our crime
That dreadful sin we both do often
Express a view other than the usual suspects
Social pages will never be civil
Big statement but in my view true
A moderators task can not be easy
But we must continue on knowing more share our view in the real world than the extremist rights

ise mise a question'
Do you think victims of Pedophils deserve any sympathy
Do you think they gave false witness against Pell
Are you sure Christ is a Conservative

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-44209971
Is misethe question remains unanswered
YOU OFTEN, CHARGE ME WITH NOT ANSWERING YOURS

Good Catholics world wide, share my concerns
The link enforces my view far more people than me
Including good Catholics
Have concerns

I offer my posts in this thread as evidence I value truth
Enough to launch in to some from my own party
SOME here lack both the ability to do so, and the ability to see they need to
Such people are the reason this government is looking like a half plucked duck, still alive but knowing the cooking pot is coming
My side right or wrong is always wrong
It will take better people to rebuild the wreckage that is the LNP
is mise? never ever charge me with failing to answer anything

Belly,

"ise mise a question'
Do you think victims of Pedophils deserve any sympathy"

Yes, and I think that Paedophilia should carry the death sentence.

"Do you think they gave false witness against Pell",

I have no idea, but memories can't be trusted, as is illustrated by eyewitness testimony often being at variance with the facts.

"Are you sure Christ is a Conservative",

I have no idea.

Issy, do you think its cruel to keep a goldfish in a bowl?

Why I ask is Adolf Hitler thought it was cruel, and had made such a remark when once seeing a poor goldfish confined in a bowl. A somewhat interesting perception by such a man.

George Pell, thought the Greens were morally depraved, and said so in a open letter to voters. A somewhat interesting perception by such a man.

I'm still laughing, not that Pell is Hitler, but the irony of the two. "He who laugh last, laugh loudest".

How are you going with the book?

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Adolf_Hitler%27s_Address_to_the_Reichstag_(30_January_1939)

Everyone should read this !

Paul1405 You have no morals defending this leech.

Your so called good man has moved back into the mansion hidden from bankruptcy trustees.

After five years in prison for his “parasitic plundering” of his union’s funds, former Health Services Union boss Michael Williamson has been released from jail and is living with his ex-wife in a waterfront house bought and renovated using stolen union funds.

His former wife Julieanne received the house in the divorce settlement she struck with her husband before he went to jail.

The former national president of the Labor Party was released from Cessnock jail last Saturday and his family drove him 45 kilometres to their two-storey holiday home at Brightwaters on the shores of Lake Macquarie. The family also own the house next door.

In October 2013 Williamson agreed to plead guilty to stealing $1 million from the union, but in reality the amount was estimated to be closer $20 million. As part of his plea deal he signed an undertaking to repay the HSU $5 million which he had fraudulently used to maintain his family’s lavish lifestyle.

But that very same day Williamson declared himself bankrupt. Because Mrs Williamson had already filed for divorce, her share of the couple's assets were protected from her husband's bankruptcy trustee. Apart from some of his defined benefit super scheme, all that was left in the coffers was a dinghy.

The current head of the HSU, Gerard Hayes, is still furious about Williamson’s treachery. In relation to the couple’s divorce, Mr Hayes said: “If the settlement wasn’t genuine, we will contemplate any further opportunity to recover funds on behalf of the membership.”

The timing of Williamson’s release is not fortuitous for Labor on the eve of state and federal elections.

In 2001 NSW Opposition leader Michael Daley was one of several Labor councillors on Randwick council who voted to approve Williamson’s exten­sions to his property in Meagher Avenue, Maroubra. This was despite the council’s planning staff having rejected the proposal. Mr Daley has said he had no recollection of the application in question.

Rest of story.

http://www.theage.com.au/national/nsw/union-boss-michael-williamson-out-of-the-clink-and-into-clover-20190308-p512tb.html

Phil as usual spreading lies!

//Paul1405 You have no morals defending this leech. (Michael Williamson) //

Show me where I have offered one word in defence of Williamson.

Being a rabid right wing hate freak as you are, some kind of neo-Nazi supporter you much prefers to peddle the lies of a far right UK scandal sheet on this forum, rather than telling the truth. Elsewhere on the forum you can been seen defending a convicted paedophile.

I see you deservedly spent time on the sideline for calling me a liar. Now you are at it again.

I don't expect a reply, you will slink off for a while, then return.

Paul1405 The reply you said you would not get.

Quote "Phil as usual spreading lies!"

Show me 3 lies, good luck.

What goes around comes around, will be watching you very closely you reported me I will do the same to you if you step out of line.

So what is your opinion of the above criminal?

So Phil, your claim about me defending Michael Williamson on this forum was a lie. Do you want to address that or is it end of story. number 1

Phil, most of the rubbish you put up from the UK scandal sheet 'The Daily Mail' are sensationalised fabrications, in other words lies, and I have call them so many times. You are culpable in the fact you dutifully cut and past their obnoxious material. Your out is always "its them, not me." Off the top of my head, the woman from NZ, and all the so called benefits, was a lie, not possible as presented, number 2. The recent $4 million subsidy of NSW public transport for asylum seekers, when it was clearly shown there was no financial outlay (look up the meaning of subsidy) at all, number 3. There are many others, but I can't be bothered looking for them, all posted by Phil. Satisfied.

Michael Williamson, in my opinion is a low life grub who got everything he deserved. It a pity the law is the way it is and he can indirectly benefit from a loop hole. Shameful in my opinion.

Yes Phil, keep a weather eye you never know what you might see.

A bit of reverse psychology, tell someone they are not going to do something and it dares them into doing it, like replying when I said you would not.

Paul1405 Quote "A bit of reverse psychology, tell someone they are not going to do something and it dares them into doing it"

Now you claim to be in possession of psychological methods, where from back of a Weeties pack.

Like usual you attack the source of articles rather than the content.

Quote "The recent $4 million subsidy of NSW public transport for asylum seekers, when it was clearly shown there was no financial outlay (look up the meaning of subsidy) at all,"

** True you just don't understand economics and business.

Quote "3. There are many others, but I can't be bothered looking for them, all posted by Phil. Satisfied"

** That is nothing you can't even count properly declaring nothing as something. **

Paul you will have been confronted by my frank but honest view those involved in the health services union scandal are grubs
And know I knew them both
From National conference of my party
Knew too they both never existed even outside that union, as other than the grub they have always been
Like the LNP we have always had grubs
Maggots in fact
Read about the white collar crimes and you will see they too have their share
Right now grubs are leaving the LNP sinking ship
You are in verbal combate with, well you know the rest
it is not worth it, MANY of the threads, even if not getting many posts, are worth getting into, but not worth verbal combate with, you know the rest

Belly Maybe you can answer these questions.

How did he steal so much over a long period and no one notices for years?

If he could get away with it have steps been taken to stop others in other unions?

How the heel can someone get away with a salary of $500,000 and the members did not cry blue murder some must have known something was wrong?

Again like usual Paul1405 has no reply, when the fire is too hot leave the area.

Worth reminding him.

Hi Belly, like you, both my wife, a past HSU delegate, and myself
detested the actions of Michael Williamson.
Philip S took it upon himself to post a bare faced lie that I had posted support for Williamson. In what is his normal fashion, true to form, Philip S has not withdrawn the comment or apologised for the lie.

Maybe he got it from his lying scandal sheet the UK Daily Horror.

Paul1405 You never apologized for your lie so I am just following your example.

Take the s off https fester then your link will work
in this matter both men are filth, along with up to ten others from that time infesting my party then but not now