The Health Services Union has called on its Victorian leader Diana Asmar to stand aside from all her union positions in the face of claims her branch spent more than $3 million of members’ money on printing firms for non-existent or “ghost” services.

The health union’s national executive unanimously decided at an urgent meeting on Wednesday afternoon that Ms Asmar, the secretary of its largest Victorian branch, should stand down until the Fair Work Commission has completed its investigation into the claims, first reported by The Australian Financial Review, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.