The former Vice President of the HSU No 3 Branch Kate Wilkinson today said this in the Royal Commission:

Mr Stoljar         The Peter MacCallum settlement was the Peter Mac money that I made reference to before?
Ms Wilkinson   That's right.

Q. It was a settlement - well, you tell me. The settlement was against litigation involving the union and

A.  And Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre or cancer institute as it was known then, in the research division there were a number of divisions across the hospital and the research division apparently had some problems as far as employees' entitlements. Those employees fell under the remit, if you like, of the HSU No 3 Branch, and in discussion and - yes, with the union, to sort that problem out, I understand that the management of Peter Mac chose to reimburse employees outstanding amounts and entitlements, but the extent of the backlog, if you like, was extensive and I understand that the union and Peter Mac reached an agreement to settle with the union for an amount of a couple of hundred thousand dollars.

The payment to the union was by way of exemplary or punitive damages or as a payment in lieu of the union agreeing not to further pursue the Peter MacCallum Institute.  The payment to the union was made in addition to any outstanding payments owing to members.  It is wrong and offensive to report that either Kate Wilkinson or Kathy Jackson would contemplate the diversion of monies rightfully due to their members.