'C**t-struck': Lawler drops bizarre profanity on ABC television

An explosive ABC television investigation into the relationship of embattled former HSU boss Kathy Jackson and Michael Lawler became even more peculiar following a bizarre profanity used by the Fair Work Commission vice-president.

Lawler, who is on a $430,000 taxpayer-funded salary, used a very particular phrase to describe his fears of how he was to be portrayed when he was outed as being in a relationship with former Health Services Union boss Kathy Jackson.

"I'll be characterised as that scumbag, crook, fraudster, and, at the very best, somebody who's been bewitched by an evil harridan, namely Kathy [Jackson]," Lawler said.

"That I'm c**t-struck and that I have been utterly taken in by somebody who's a serious crook."

The profanity is described in the popular Urban Dictionary as "to be in a state of having an irrational and strong emotional and physical attraction to a woman."

For whatever reason, the ABC failed to bleep out what was strangely the most shocking moment of the program that heard Lawler secretly taped phone conversations with his boss.

Mr Lawler admitted he recorded telephone conversations with Fair Work Commission president Justice Iain Ross to gather evidence to defend himself because of his role in preparing, while he was on sick leave, Ms Jackson's defence against allegations she defrauded the Health Services Union of $1.4 million.

Mr Lawler produced his psychiatrist's report, which says he had a severe depressive episode and required time off work.

Mr Lawler's conduct is the subject of a federal government inquiry, to be headed by former Federal Court judge Peter Heeley QC.

This includes accusations that he took large amounts of sick leave, including nine months out of the past 12 - from his taxpayer-funded job while working on Ms Jackson's defence.

Justice Ross has denied any suggestion that he ever told Mr Lawler that his sick leave entitlements were unlimited.

But Mr Lawler produced a recording in which he says Justice Ross said otherwise.

"I think your health is the first priority and there's no ... I mean, I'll take responsibility for any amounts of sick leave you seek, there's no cap or anything like that," Justice Ross allegedly told Mr Lawler.

Mr Lawler later told the ABC he had been secretly recording conversations with Justice Ross since 2012.

"It's become necessary these last four years to assemble evidence," he said.

"I was a specialist fraud prosecutor, I understand the importance of evidence and maintaining it."

Mr Lawler has confirmed he worked on Ms Jackson's legal defence during nine months of sick leave but that the leave was fully approved and his actions were above board.

When asked how Justice Ross would react when he found out that his conversations with Mr Lawler had been taped, Mr Lawler said: "I imagine he will be very annoyed indeed".

Next month Ms Jackson is appealing a Federal Court order to pay $1.4 million to the union, but the HSU is questioning the competency of her bid.

In August, Ms Jackson was ordered to pay $1,338,626 in damages and $67,912 in overpaid salary to the HSU after the Federal Court found she had used union money to prop up a lavish lifestyle.

Jackson set up an unauthorised slush fund which she used to pay for travel, groceries, entertainment and even her divorce, the court found.

In September she filed a notice of appeal.

The Federal Court will hear Jackson's appeal in November after it hears the union's objection.