Head of HSU convicted of $1m union fraud gets 7 years jail

THE former head of the Health Services Union, Michael Williamson, was convicted of defrauding the union of nearly $1 million today.

Williamson, also a former Labor Party president, was sentenced in the New South Wales District Court to seven and a half years jail for the crime.

Judge David Frearson told the court Williamson's action amounted to a "parasitic plundering" of union funds for "pure greed".

He said Williamson was brazen and arrogant and held a position of "extreme power" within the HSU at the time, but noted he was unlikely to re-offend.

Williamson faces a non-parole period of at least five years.