Former National Union of Workers NSW secretary Derrick Belan has admitted to using a union credit card to pay for a tattoo of his mother and father on his leg.
Mr Belan told the royal commission into union corruption that he had paid back the $432 and that his intention had been to pay for the tattoo in cash "but the ATM didn't have any money in it" at the time.
The tattoo parlour, Buen Arte tattoo studio in Emu Plains, was given photographs of Mr Belan's mother and his father to copy.
In a signed statement, tattoo artist William Buenen said he saw Mr Belan after giving him the tattoo in June last year.
"[H]e came in to tell me that: 'My mother cried when I showed her my tattoo. She said to tell you thank you for making me look so young and beautiful'."
Mr Belan and his niece, Danielle O'Brien, have been questioned about tens of thousands of dollars of union funds spent on union credit cards for personal items including Tiffanys jewellery, online dating services, homeware, toys, holidays and the tattoo.
"At no time did I commit fraud or ask anyone to do that on my behalf," Mr Belan said.
Documents tendered to the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption on Tuesday also show Mr Belan's union salary jumped from $164,174 in 2009/2010 and $185,837 in 2013/2014 to $244,769 in 2014/2015.
After resigning from the union late last month, he negotiated a termination payment of $327,703, which has not yet been paid.
The deed appears to release the union from all claims and liability related to his employment or termination.
Asked about a $1537 tour to Lake Conjola charged to his union credit card, he said he was not aware of the payment, "but it looks like I did".
Mr Belan told the royal commission he thought he received an $1840 cruise on the Pacific Jewel from his niece as a "gift" for his 43rd birthday and had no idea it was paid for using the union credit card.
Mr Belan said his niece Danielle O'Brien had full control of his finances.
When counsel assisting Sarah McNaughton said: "So, it was, it was all Danielle's fault, is it?"
Mr Belan replied: "I believe so, yes. As hard as that it is to say".
Ms McNaughton asked about a series of online purchases on his credit card including Disney Frozen girl's princess tree, sunglasses and Penguin men's logo tee shirt which were sent to his mother's address, where he was living at the time.
He denied buying the Disney goods for his children and said he was offended at any suggestion he would buy stolen goods.
Asked about the $8800 monthly payment to former NSW Labor MP Paul Gibson to bridge the gap between the union and the former ALP secretary and now Senator, Sam Dastyari, Mr Belan did not clarify if anyone else in the union was consulted.
Asked about his use of a private eye at the expense of labour hire company Action Workforce, he said its bosses had "assisted him as a friend".
Mr Belan said he was keeping $25,000 from a union related slush fund in his home safe and had left it in his car during Tuesday's hearing.
"I was told by the lawyers today you may wish to see it or ask where it is," he said.
Earlier in the hearing, the new secretary of the National Union of Workers NSW branch, Wayne Meaney, the former assistant secretary, said he never questioned Mr Belan's use of union money because it "wasn't the done thing".
"I don't think the assistant secretary should question the day to day movements of a secretary. That's just not how it works," Mr Meaney said.
Asked about the practice of blank cheque books being pre-signed, he said it was obvious there were "a lot of things need to be tidied up" in the union's governance.
