Corrupt HSU boss Michael Williamson trades prime rib for jailhouse slop after conviction for $5 million fraud

IN Sydney’s The Grill Room at Prime, disgraced union boss Michael Williamson liked to impress with his generosity. Now he faces far simpler meals in jail.

IN The Grill Room at Prime in Sydney’s Martin Place, disgraced union boss Michael Williamson liked to impress with his generosity and knowledge of fine wines.

Entrees at the swish restaurant in the old GPO building include quail with ginger and cuttlefish at $26 and among the $42 mains is a herb-crusted rump of lamb, smoked aubergine, onion marmalade, olive paint and casuarinas feta.

Jailed HSU boss Michael Williamson was 'motivated by greed' in $5m fraud

Yesterday, behind bars and awaiting sentence, the former ALP national president got his first taste of a prison diet that typically includes cereal for breakfast, a cheese roll for lunch and cottage pie, egg and cheese salad or tuna salad for dinner.

Picture: Supplied

“The man was a real connoisseur,” said Michael Jones, the insolvency expert charged with investigating Williamson’s affairs and tracking down the $5 million the corrupt union boss cost the Health Services Union.

What puzzles Mr Jones is where all the money has gone. He plans to issue summons in the next week for Williamson and a number of others to answer questions on the missing cash in the Federal Court.

At home in his $1.5 million Maroubra mansion, Williamson liked to take guests on tours of his wine cellar, packed with the pick of the vineyards from Penfolds, Henschke and Wendouree. His five children went to expensive private schools— St Catherine’s for his three daughters and Cranbrook for his two sons. His wife Julie-Anne had a Mercedes convertible and enjoyed first-class overseas holidays with her husband.

The Grill Room at Prime in Sydney’s Martin Place.

The 60-year-old former HSU national president was earning $513,294 a year while representing some of Australia’s poorest-paid workers including hospital orderlies and cleaners on less than $40,000.

“None of our members could afford anything like the lifestyle he was enjoying,” HSU NSW secretary Gerard Hayes said.

“We think the money has gone on first-class travel and very fine wine but we need to be sure there is nothing else tucked away. It would be catastrophic if he came out of jail to have a nest egg somewhere.”

Silverwater Jail.

Of the $5 million of missing union money, Williamson is estimated to have pocketed $1.2 million. This included $338,000 to his wife for filing work and almost $300,000 in unauthorised pay increases.

He also took $600,000 in backhanders for overcharged merchandising products from a company called Access Focus. Its owner Alf Downing is alleged to have received $1.2 million and Williamson’s mistress, union procurement manager Cheryl McMillan, $600,000.

The union’s lawyers have already begun civil action to recover money from McMillan and Downing, who owns a luxury resort in Fiji. They are also pursuing Beth Jenson, who advised on Williamson’s dubious pay rises, and his deputy Peter Mylan for negligence in approving the inflated payments to suppliers controlled by Williamson.

Former HSU boss Michael Willamson.

The day after he was convicted Williamson filed for bankruptcy, declaring his few remaining assets included a tinnie and jet ski. Everything, including his wife’s Mercedes, their house in Maroubra and holiday home in Lake Macquarie was mortgaged to the hilt.

“His wife took him to the cleaners,” said Mr Jones, the trustee in bankruptcy.

“His wife is sitting on a $2 million nestegg which is protected by law.”