PARLIAMENTARY REPORT
provided the investigator with information that is false and misleading. The report found that Mr Thomson used more than $270,000 in union funds for federal electioneering, between 2002 and 2007 spent $73,000 on credit cards for dining and entertainment, and during the same period withdrew $103 000 in cash withdrawals. On 8 May, the Manager of
Opposition Business in the House of Representatives, Hon. Chris Pyne, MP, moved
AUSTRALIA
relate to him”. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Julie Bishop, MP, seconded the motion stating that “the report has found, amongst other things, that the member for Dobell misused the funds of the Health Services Union to support his election to this Parliament. This is a very serious allegation. Let me be clear. A member of this parliament has been accused of a serious fraud that underpins his presence in this place”. The Leader of Government
Hon. Chris Pyne, MP
“that in the view of the grave findings made against him by Fair Work Australia, the Honourable Member for Dobell be suspended from the service of the House for 14 sitting days, and that after that the Honourable Member make a statement for the consideration of the House in response to the findings made against him so that the House can consider whether a further period of suspension is warranted”. This motion was defeated with the independent members voting with the government. On 9 May, Mr Pyne moved
“that the House requires the Member for Dobell to make a statement to the House immediately, for a period not exceeding 10 minutes, about the matters arising from Fair Work Australia’s inquiry into the Health Services Union that
Business, Hon. Anthony Albanese, MP, in speaking against the motion drew attention to inconsistencies in the opposition’s attack. Mr Albanese noted that when Liberal SenatorMary Jo Fisher had certain charges brought against her, Mr Abbott stated that “the matter is now before the courts where I understand it will be contested and she should be extended the presumption of innocence”. Mr Albanese stated that Mr Thomson “has said he will make a statement; he should be left to do that. That is what we would expect under all circumstances. But if we go down the road of trying to present this place as judge and jury then we destroy the separation of powers and the balance between political representatives and the judicial wing, which is a very dangerous step indeed”. At the conclusion of this
debate, Mr Thomson stated that “the next sitting week is when I intend to make a statement. “There has been a
comprehensive and very long Fair Work Australia report of some 1,100 pages, which we did not have access to until late Monday night. It is appropriate that I have time to go through that so that I can make a
140 | The Parliamentarian | 2012: Issue Two
comprehensive statement to Parliament, which is what I intend to do. This week is an important week, being budget week. It is a week when
looking at the Leader of the Opposition and the press gallery stated that “you have unleashed the lynch mob and you have fanned it and for that you're, ultimately, responsible”. Mr Thomson commented
that “in making this statement I am very conscious that in the eyes of many of the public I have already been charged, convicted and sentenced. The public will hold these views because of the quite extraordinary media coverage which has taken place”’ He noted that “it is important
Hon. Julie Bishop, MP
families around Australia are looking at what this government could do and that, quite frankly, is what this week should be spent on. But I indicate to Parliament that I intend to make a statement in the next sitting week”. On 21 May Mr Thomson
addressed the House of Representatives. He began by restating some of the threats that had been made against him: “Go cut your wrists or, better still, hang yourself”. “Go out the back, cut your throat—
to once again remind the House that I have not been the subject of any conviction, not even the subject of any legal proceedings; none of the allegations have been tested in any court or tribunal”. Mr Thomson criticized the
FWA report and its author Mr Terry Nassios. Mr Thomson stated that
“rather than forensic, Mr Nassios, the delegate, was selective and biased. He was so biased, in fact, that I had to write to the general manager last year asking for his removal from this position. Mr Nassios had an outcome that he wanted to achieve and he was trying to link assertions. There was no body of evidence that supported his position”. In addition, Mr Thomson
Hon. Anthony Albanese, MP
that's the only way”. “Have you slashed your wrists yet?” “You are dead. A bullet between the eyes will save taxpayers' money”. ‘'Mr Thomson while
raised questions about the relationship of a Vice President of FWA, Mr Michael Lalor who is the partner of the current HSU National Secretary Ms Kathy Jackson. Ms Jackson has been highly critical of Mr Thomson. Mr Thomson stated that “the main accuser's partner is second in charge. The questions Fair Work has to answer, the questions the deputy president has to answer, are: what influence did he have in relation to the writing of the report?” The FWA report, amongst a
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72