Alexander Leszczynski has been sworn
Friday, 19 September 2014
Mr Leszczynski has been sworn, he has adopted two witness statements (with minor changes) and they have been tendered and received into evidence.
Mr Leszczynski worked at the Victoria No 1 Branch of the HSU during 2013.
Mr Stoljar has no questions for this witness.
Mr Van der Weil is now cross-examining him.
Mr Leszczynski was a senior industrial officer with the HSU in Victoria during the time of the court-appointed administration prior to the December 2012 election in which Ms Asmar took office.
He states that he was quizzed by the Asmar team about his political affiliations and he was required to make some kind of written submission justifying the retention of his job.
He has given evidence that the new employees brought on by the Asmar administration appeared to him to be people with the same political background, beliefs and affiliations.
Mr Leszczynski has given evidence about being terminated in his role with the union after he sent an email to a colleague that was apparently less than glowing in its observations about the leadership of the branch.
Mr Leszczynski was apparently very upset when he was terminated. Mr Van der Weil asked him if he was aware the police were called. Mr Van der Weil put to Mr Leszczynski that he was slamming doors, slamming desks around and the like. Mr Leszczynski refutes that proposition, he states he gave the leadership team a bit of a verbal spray but that was it. This is not the first time the Kitching team has adopted the call-early, call-often approach with police.
At 1020 Mr Leszczynski was excused.