HSU a boys club: Thomson whistleblower

The woman who blew the whistle on former MP Craig Thomson has given evidence at the hearing for his alleged misuse of union credit cards.

Kathy Jackson, who replaced Thomson as national secretary of the Health Services Union in 2007, told the Melbourne Magistrates Court the organisation is a boys' club and compared it to a cult.

Thomson, 49, has pleaded not guilty to obtaining financial advantage by deception over the alleged misuse of HSU credit cards on escorts, adult movies and cash withdrawals.

Ms Jackson, who first reported Thomson to police, said the union had rules in place about how its money could be spent.

"The union's fund must be expended for the benefit of the members," she told the court on Thursday.

When asked if she knew details about the political wrangling among the HSU national executive, Ms Jackson said it was a "boys' club".

Ms Jackson said she was too busy raising her children to worry about political factions.

"It was a bit like a cult, you could be there all the time if you wanted to," she said.

Under cross examination from Thomson's barrister Greg James QC, Ms Jackson said it was possible that cheques written out to cash from her HSU branch's account totalled somewhere near $100,000 a year.

Ms Jackson said the cash was all used for legitimate union expenses.