Health Services Union to remove branch secretary Diana Asmar

Health Workers Union boss Diana Asmar has relinquished control of the embattled Victorian branch as it looks set to be placed into administration.

Health Workers Union Secretary Diana Asmar. Picture: Peter Ristevski

Union boss Diana Asmar has surrendered control of the embattled Health Workers Union as it looks set to be placed into administration.

Ms Asmar is facing a Fair Work Commission case over allegations of financial impropriety including the alleged misappropriation of union funds.

The Commission has accused Ms Asmar of authorising more than $2.7m in “ghost payments” to a printing business, as well as falsely claiming more than $120,000 in reimbursements.

Ms Asmar’s husband, David, is also listed as a respondent in the case.

On Friday the union’s national executive said it had reached an in-principle agreement to place the Victorian Health Workers Union branch into full administration.

“This agreement reached in no way detracts from or impacts the current Fair Work Commission prosecution proceeding against Ms Asmar,” it said in a statement.

“Accordingly, she will continue to be prosecuted in those proceedings for the alleged serious improper financial conduct and the HSU will actively support the Fair Work Commission in doing so.”

Diana Asmar’s term as Health Services Union Victorian branch secretary was not due to end until mid-next year.

The union said Ms Asmar had “agreed to support the union’s application to place the HWU branch into administration, which will mean that she is automatically removed from her position as branch secretary upon these orders being made.”

Ms Asmar’s term was not due to end until the middle of next year.

“This agreement prioritises the interests of our members by avoiding hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal and wage costs, as well as lengthy delays in implementing necessary reforms,” HSU National Secretary, Lloyd Williams, said.

“The branch will now move swiftly into full administration, allowing us to restore proper governance and financial management to the HWU Branch.

“This agreement achieves what we set out to do. It accelerates the reform process in the HWU Branch and the ability to recover alleged misappropriated union funds remains unabated.

“The Fair Work Commission prosecution case against Ms Asmar and others will continue, and we fully and actively support the authorities in their prosecution of these serious allegations.”

Originally published as Health Services Union to remove branch secretary Diana Asmar