[3] But its origins date back to the early years of the twentieth century when organisations of hospital employees were first formed in Australia.

Amid the allegations, the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) suspended the HSU's membership.

[6] On 31 January 2013, Thomson was arrested and was expected to face 150 fraud charges in Wyong Local Court.

[7] Following regulatory and administrative investigations, criminal trials and a subsequent appeal, on 15 December 2014, Thomson, a former Labor politician, was found guilty in the Victorian County Court of thirteen charges of theft and convicted and fined A$25,000.

[8][9][10] Forty-nine charges of obtaining financial advantage by deception were dismissed[10] following an earlier finding in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on 18 February 2014 against Thomson of defrauding the HSU in order to pay for personal expenses.