Court finds Craig Thomson Guilty of Squandering $300,000 of HSU funds
A damning Federal Court judgement has found former federal MP Craig Thomson guilty of squandering more than $300,000 in Health Services Union funds.
Federal Court Justice Christopher Jessup found dozens of transactions – including several visits to brothels by Mr Thomson – were for his personal benefit and against the interests of the HSU.
The finding is the latest against a senior former leader of the corruption-plagued HSU.
The bulk of the HSU money was spent on Mr Thomson’s successful bid to enter federal parliament in 2007, including on staff and sponsorships.
The decision against Mr Thomson follows the recent Federal Court ruling against another former disgraced HSU national secretary, Kathy Jackson, who was ordered to repay $1.4 million
Ms Jackson, once feted as a whistleblower was found to have misused her position at the HSU to fraudulently gain financial advantage. Ms Jackson is under police investigation from a taskforce connected to the royal commission into trade union corruption.
Another former HSU leader, Michael Williamson, who was also once Labor’s national president, is in jail for frauds he committed at the HSU.
Mr Thomson had been sued by the Fair Work Commission for more than $243,000, for more than 50 breaches of federal law and 17 breaches of union rules from his time running the Health Services Union.
In March, Mr Thomson walked out of the civil case brought against him by the Fair Work Commission after he told the Federal Court his mental health problems were too severe.
THOMSON: “I’VE SUFFERED ENOUGH”
He told the court he was experiencing a major depressive disorder and other conditions
But Justice Jessup rejected the application from Mr Thomson, saying the ex-politician had only raised the issue late in the hearings.
He rejected much of Mr Thomson’s submission and described some elements of his evidence as “scandalous” and “objectionable”, including unsupported allegations against police and the Fair Work Commission.
Mr Thomson’s former lawyer Chris McArdle said if the former federal MP had been able to explain his case he would have been able to deal with the issues. He said Mr Thomson still “hotly disputed” paying for prostitutes with HSU money or not having authority for his campaign spending.
Fair Work Commission general manager, Bernadette O’Neill welcomed the decision and said a further court hearing in November would consider what relief would be granted.
The former MP and HSU national secretary avoided going to prison last year after successfully appealing a decision in the Magistrates Court.
He was fined $25,000 for the theft of less than $5000, an amount significantly reduced over time.
theguttertrash.com 
NO!!!!
Here’s 20 reasons NOT to find against Criag-
1. He “settled” this defamation with Fairfax
2. It’s a beat-up
3. He sayings he can explain it all
4. Wait until he makes a “comprehensive statement “in parliament
5. Wait until the Fair Work Commission finishes its independent investigation
6. Look at Kathy Jackson!
7. The Fair Work Commission is biased, and the investigator “shared an office” with Lawler. They did each other favours.
8. Look at Kathy Jackson!
9. Look at Kathy Jackson!
10. He hasn’t been charged with anything
11. Think of the baby!
12. Look at Kathy Jackson!
13. Wait for the court to determine this
14. He’s going to appeal, so don’t judge him
15. Look at Kathy Jackson!
16. It’s a beat-up
17. Look at Kathy Jackson!
18. So who among us hasn’t used their employer funds dishonestly and for prostitutes?
19. Look at Kathy Jackson!
20. It’s a beat-up
I’m sure Tom R will have answer to all your lies, ToM, just as soon as he has consulted Wixxy. Will the unjust persecution of this innocent man never cease?
I’m sure Tom R will have answer to all your lies, ToM
Stick to dot points 😉
And, I get the feeling that yomms looking for a charity something. He’s kinda infatuated with someone.
“Mr Thomson’s former lawyer Chris McArdle said if the former federal MP had been able to explain his case he would have been able to deal with the issues.”
And if he could not explain his case then ….. ?
“[Justice Jessup] rejected much of Mr Thomson’s submission and described some elements of his evidence as “scandalous” and “objectionable”, including unsupported allegations against police and the Fair Work Commission.”
Wixxy already had a go yesterday sb
We now witness the perverse position of Thomson being found not guilty by criminal court, yet about to be slugged in a civil case due to his virtual bankruptcy.
http://wixxyleaks.com/when-tomorrow-comes-is-it-time-for-a-craig-thomson-bash-fest/
“I get the feeling that yomms looking for a charity something. He’s kinda infatuated with someone.”
I’m sure you are reading too much into his repeated use of:
That is not how I feel when I look at KJ!
“We now witness the perverse position of Thomson being found not guilty by criminal court, yet about to be slugged in a civil case due to his virtual bankruptcy.”
He would say that! But he already new that a lot of the criminal charges were thrown out on a technicality and also that the criminal standard of proof is higher than the civil standard.
It is thus no surprise that there were different findings in the civil and criminal cases.
The fact is that in the criminal trial Thomson was found, beyond reasonable doubt, to have used union funds to root whores.
…but, but, but…
11. Think of the baby!
Thanks for the link Tom R…
i just used it to post –
* The FWA Investigator (Nassios) and Lawler “shared an office” you know!
I wonder whether Wicks will take it out of moderation or delete it!
I wonder whether Wicks will take it out of moderation or delete it!
Or wonder why someone is so petty they continue with their whinge no matter how many times he clarifies it for you?
Personally, I’d let it sit there for others to laugh at.
Speaking of laughing at
(BOOM BOOM) 😉
Oh I see Tom just beat me to it…. 🙂
So when Wicks says they shared favours, just like people do when they “share an office”, do you think he had knowledge of the relationship or was he just bulls**ting?
When he said they would talk while having a smoke, do you think Wicks knew they talked while smoking or was he speculating?
When he tried to taint the reputation of a long serving public servant who was just dining his job, do you think Wicks was responsible or was he taking a partisan/no prisoners approach to his defense of Thompson?
The funny thing is that most Pacific Islands are growing, not shrinking.
I find it just a SHOCKING DISGRACE of our hard earned taxpayers’ money that these so-called “courts” are determined to ruin poor old Craig Thomson…
Why are people so unkind?
*Proud supporter of the “he has suffered enough” campaign.
“Why are people so unkind?”
Beats me, but if they weren’t this blog would have no audience and most of its commenters would have to get a life. Imagine that!
LOL true!
He is only one of many corrupt politicians, they have their own agendas and interests of their good friends who own corporate companies.
Mr Thomson had been sued by the Fair Work Commission for more than $243,000, for more than 50 breaches of federal law and 17 breaches of union rules from his time running the Health Services Union.
Well I hope that all these “fines” are returned to the members of the HSU and not into Mr Abbott’s government coffers via the “courts” … if not, that’s one thief robbing from another, surely? And the real owners are still out of pocket … hey?
SHOCKING DISGRACE
how many disgraces are there .. I wonder?
Speaking of laughing at …
TR, we would call this a “look over there” if other commenters did it … however …
This little charade does demonstrate that senior ministers of the Abbott Government are really ignorant of the people and the Pacific … when they refer to “time” in the islands they have no clue at all … it is commonly referred to as Melanesian Time …
And like dickhead expats they simply do not know how to manage the concept …
BUT! Now we know the real reason Dopey Dora Dutton was shipped very quickly overseas … just in case he made another gaffe over another gaffe …
As the Federal Election gets closer I’m really looking forward to the fun!
… and most of its commenters would have to get a life. Imagine that!
I don’t understand how people who work can comment here as much as they do … I didn’t start commenting until after I retired … no time (12/15 hour days) and working in the Never Never didn’t help …
And you can’t/couldn’t comment on friggin’ planes … any “good” time was spent with family …
“”I don’t understand how people who work can comment here as much as they do “”
It’s called multi-tasking darling. It’s a modern thing.
hey team-nanny-roxon, l spoke to a neighbor down the street a couple of days ago, he was bitching that his tin of tobacco(50-grams) now cost over 50-bucks at the supermarket, thats a dollar per gram, you probably shouldn`t be considering the `falling-sales` numbers you get as `quit` numbers, they`re much more likely to be transfers to off-the-books product.
sorry, l forgot, his baccy jumped 7-bucks, which was causing his bitching.
#with all the massive tax hikes on baccy pushing prices higher and higher, the military-grade packaging will only play a `micro`part in `falling-sales` numbers imo
http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/sep/13/actu-calls-off-legal-challenge-to-dyson-heydon-as-head-of-unions-inquiry
The ACTU calla off their legal challenge to Heydon!!
What a joke they are, they could use a legal process to win their assertion of bias but they’ve chickened out.
but they’ve chickened out.
Yea, I reckon that sums it up.
The turc will be extended regardless. Assuming that is we have an election next year 😉
But, politically, the damage is done. heydon is yesterdays news, and now largely irrelevant.
“This is a political process, not a legal process and we will treat it as such.”
As they should, and as yabots comments on 7.30 confirmed.
l spoke to a neighbor down the street a couple of days ago
Has he recovered yet?
Ignore reality all you like. A little heads up, smokes have been unrealistically priced for probably the last twenty years, at least the last decade.
This doesn’t mean he gave up because of that or not. It also has no relevance to plain packaging, which is targeted more at new smokers, and on all available data (except the stuff made up by cigarette companies and their spruikers) seems to be quite effective.
Of course though yomm, an “apologist” might argue that Unions have better things to waste their money on.
Workers took their fight to retain penalty rates to more than 20 marginal federal seats at the weekend as part of an unprecedented campaign to protect their rights.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/unions-blitz-marginal-seats-on-central-coast-to-protect-workers-penalty-rates-20150913-gjldxj.html#ixzz3lf71FUhR
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Considering the millions in members funds already pissed up because of this witch hunt.
But, politically, the damage is done. heydon is yesterdays news, and now largely irrelevant …
… I reckon that sums it up.
Certainly does …
BTW, got a phone call last night … recoded message from ETU leccy, on the CHAfta … and the danger to local jobs …
… and the danger to local jobs …
Been seeing a lot of “reporting” about how the Unions have got onto the front foot, arguing the grubmint are being outgunned in the advertising stakes here.
Sorry, but when the Unions are correct, and the grubmints denials are proven to be false, it’s nothing to do with being outgunned, but everything to do with cold hard facts.
If they thought their argument was sound, they wouldn’t have had to resort to lying about it as a defense.