Thomson findings may not be made public

Updated February 03, 2012 21:02:43


Photo: Mr Thomson has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. (AAP: Alan Porritt)

Related Story: Abetz releases 'inappropriate' Fair Work emails

Related Story: HSU boss challenged over 'conspiracy theories'


Map: Australia
Fair Work Australia has indicated it may not release the findings of its investigation into federal Labor MP Craig Thomson.

The industrial watchdog is looking into allegations Mr Thomson misused a work credit card when he was head of the Health Services Union before he entered Parliament.

Mr Thomson has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

Fair Work Australia says it wants the people it is investigating to respond to the allegations by March 5.

However it says it has not yet made a decision on whether the investigation report will be made public.

The Opposition says the inquiry is starting to smell like a government cover-up.

Liberal frontbencher Christopher Pyne says he finds it extraordinary that the tribunal is considering keeping the findings secret.

"What at best has been regarded as an institutional go-slow, starts to smell very like a cover-up of a member of Parliament on who the Government relies to stay in office," he said.

Mr Pyne says there is an obligation on the industrial watchdog to be open.

"Nobody will accept Fair Work Australia deciding not to publish the Craig Thomson finding," he said.

"That will be the straw that broke the camel's back in terms of trust in this Government and this Prime Minister in particular."

Earlier this week HSU national secretary Kathy Jackson, who is also under investigation by Fair Work Australia, alleged government interference in the Thomson investigation.

Ms Jackson told the ABC's 7.30 she wanted an external review to look into the reasons why the inquiry, which started in 2009, was taking so long.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said Ms Jackson was "welcome to her conspiracy theories".

But on Thursday Opposition workplace relations spokesman Eric Abetz said he had evidence of inappropriate dealings between the Government and Fair Work Australia.

In an email exchange made public by Senator Abetz, a Fair Work Australia employee sent a government adviser a statement she was providing to the media about the inquiry.

The government adviser replied to the email saying the statement was "awesome" and should minimise any run the story would get in the morning

oh dear if the Australian public put up with this... then all I can say is we deserve what we get???

if gillard claims there is not a thing the govt can do to force FAIRWORK to release their findings....


then it should be screamed from the rooftops we want an election..


something is rotton in the state of Denmark... we apy for FAIRWORK..THOMO doesnt.. its us the people.

we have every right to know every detail...

all we need is tony abbott and the removal of 'fair work' which is a total failure.

To be fair - irrelevant of the findings - a guy spending $60,000 of the membership money of the lowest paid people in the country - and spending it flying business and first class around the world.

That's a pretty scummy sort of person is it not?

Labor have to remove themselves from all these ex-Union scum.

adelcrow wrote on Feb 4^th, 2012 at 5:38pm:


until the inevitable DD which will happen when the thoroughly discredited and disgraced labor and greens block every bit of legislation. it wil take about 6 months for a DD election which will then roll-back the carbon tax and change the composition of the senate. the electorate has a habit of severely punishing those the force early elections.

Is it standard practice for Fair work to publicly release investigations?
If not & no criminal activity is found why should this be any different?
If it is common practice then they will have to.
If criminality is found it will all be laid bare in court.

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Feb 4^th, 2012 at 6:01pm:


I'm not defending the bloke, just saying that just because he's an MP & his demise suits the opp, doesn't automatically mean he should be treated differently.
If Labor had a majority we wouldn't even know about this guy.
It's all political, don't kid yourself anyone gives a stuff about the members, we might as people but those pushing the adgenda certainly don't.
Remember thru workchoices they allowed these workers to lose entitlements and be paid less.

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Feb 4^th, 2012 at 6:09pm:


Cmon Andrei, what do you reckon it is for the otherside when they are there.
That's all it is to ALL of them.
Don't try and push this as a Labor only trait.