Taxpayers may have to foot the legal bill for former Health Services Union boss Kathy Jackson when she stands trial accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars. Jackson, 49, appeared before the Victorian County Court on Friday for a directions hearing about a trial over the 166 charges she faces. The former union boss has been charged with 18 counts of theft, 147 counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception, and one charge of obtaining property by deception. Her lawyer told judge Lisa Hannan that Jackson had a “dire” financial situation and would need to apply for Legal Aid to defend her at trial. Her lawyer also said there had been a tragedy in Jackson’s family and her stepson had died, with his death the subject of a coronial inquiry.
