Fair Work admits Thomson delay unreasonable

Updated February 15, 2012 10:34:03


Photo: Craig Thomson has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. (AAP: Lukas Coch)

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Map: Sydney 2000
Fair Work Australia (FWA) admits its investigation into the Health Services Union has taken an "unreasonably" long time.

FWA has so far spent more than three years investigating allegations about the union, including claims that Labor MP Craig Thomson used a work credit card to pay for prostitutes during his time as the HSU's national secretary.

Mr Thomson has denied the allegations.

The Opposition has publicly questioned whether there has been political interference into the investigation, and says the delay is either down to incompetence or is a deliberate attempt to protect Mr Thomson, whose vote is crucial to the Government's hold on power.

FWA acting general manager Bernadette O'Neill says the investigation has found 25 rule breaches involving a number of people connected with the union.

She says she will soon decide whether any of the breaches should be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Ms O'Neill has rejected suggestions of political interference, but accepts the investigation could have been handled better.

"I acknowledge that on the face of it, the inquiry and subsequent investigations have taken an unreasonably long time raising legitimate questions," she said. "The staff involved in the investigations are senior and experienced and I have confidence that they have acted in good faith at all times."

Ms O'Neill says she will make a final decision in the next couple of weeks on what further action needs to be taken.

Topics:unions, government-and-politics, federal-government, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted

FRED. wrote on Feb 15^th, 2012 at 10:21am:



This statement seems like a contradiction

The people investigating it are senior people but it's taking an unreasonable of time

So competent people taking an unreasonable amount of time does not concern her at all?

Well, they better pull their fingers out and stop stalling.
There is still an innocent woman who is also waiting to have her name cleared by this investigation after all this time.
And her only association with this sad corruption/hookers tale is that she was the poor bugger to have taken over the leadership of the Union after Thompson left.

can we presume this isnt the only investigation that FAIRWORK are doing??...

do you think its a first come first serve type of business??..

I am thinking all these other things that need investigating sitting in a too hard box.. waiting for the THOMO affair to be dealt with..

gawd they wouldnt want to be in charge of a dentists waiting list would they?

cods wrote on Feb 15^th, 2012 at 8:00pm:


Abott will have a judicial enquiry or royal commission into it once he becomes PM