Tony Abbott intensifies pressure over embattled Labor MP Craig Thomson
Nick Efstathiadis

 

UPDATED From: AAP

August 21, 2011 10:03AM

The PM must explain Thomson, says Abbott [Watch]

TONY Abbott has called for embattled Labor MP Craig Thomson to be sacked as chairman of parliament's economics committee, as the ALP accused the Coalition of double standards over the alleged misuse of a credit card.

Mr Thomson, the member for the NSW seat of Dobell, is under investigation by Fair Work Australia over his authorisation of the use of a union credit card to pay for prostitutes while he was in charge of the Health Services Union.

Mr Thomson has denied any wrongdoing and Julia Gillard is standing by the backbencher, who chairs the lower house economics committee.

Mr Abbott told the Ten Network that Ms Gillard should stand Mr Thomson aside from the parliamentary committee.

“I think it's very hard for someone who can't answer questions about his own credit card to credibly ask questions of the Governor of the Reserve Bank about the nation's credit card,” Mr Abbott said.

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“So I think this is a big issue and I think the short answer is no, he can't really remain chairman of that committee.”

The Opposition Leader has stopped short of calling for Mr Thomson's resignation as an MP, which if it led to a by-election would almost certainly bring down Labor's minority government.

Labor today again tried to turn the heat back on the Coalition by raising the case of a Liberal senator facing shoplifting charges.

Trade Minister Craig Emerson accused the Liberal Party of double standards over the issue, saying: “There has been no allegation of criminality of any sort against Craig Thomson.”

Dr Emerson pointed to the case of South Australian Liberal senator Mary Jo Fisher, who is facing allegations she stole groceries from an Adelaide supermarket and assaulted a female security guard in a car park last December.

“We have never called for the resignation of this particular MP, why? Because out of respect for her and the presumption of innocence which is the cornerstone of our justice system,” Dr Emerson said.

He said three Coalition MPs were the subject of criminal investigations before the last election and all were exonerated, but there were no calls for them to be sacked.

“There's the contrast, there's the double standard,” Dr Emerson said.

Dr Emerson shares a flat with Mr Thomson in Canberra and said his friend was coping well.

“Craig's standing up to the allegations and mischief against him pretty well,” Dr Emerson said.

“I do empathise with his wife who's seven months' pregnant with their second child.”

Hotel bills obtained by Fairfax show phone calls made to two Melbourne brothels in 2006 were from rooms hired in Mr Thomson's name.

The member for Dobell has repeatedly denied using his credit card to pay for escort services, saying it was regularly used by other people within the Health Services Union (HSU) when he was national secretary.

Mr Thomson is also under pressure for delaying a disclosure that the ALP's NSW branch paid a “sum of money” - reportedly $90,000 - to his lawyers on his behalf to allegedly avoid bankruptcy after ending a defamation case against Fairfax.

Bankruptcy or criminal charges could force Mr Thomson from his NSW seat.

NSW Labor Leader John Robertson said yesterday he wasn't aware of payments made by the ALP's NSW Labor branch to Mr Thomson's lawyers.

“The Prime Minister's responded to this on numerous occasions,” Mr Robertson said.

“It's a matter for her to deal with and I think she's addressed it every day.”

Ms Gillard has defended her backbencher, saying people can be investigated and have no adverse conclusions drawn against them.

But Mr Abbott said today it was up to the Prime Minister to act when parliament resumes this week.

“This really has now gone from being just an issue for Craig Thomson to being a big issue for the Prime Minister,” he told the Ten Network.

“You can't have a Prime Minister who refused to answer reasonable questions about what she knew and what she did.”

Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce said the Coalition was not so much concerned about the morality of the issue, but rather the integrity of Mr Thomson and the Prime Minister.

He said Mr Thomson needed to make a full explanation to parliament this week.

“Let's just get it out and fix it up, otherwise it drags all politicians down,” Senator Joyce said.

Treasurer Wayne Swan today said he had full confidence in Mr Thomson.

“Allegations have been made and allegations have been denied and so I think we should let the existing processes reach their conclusion.,” he told reporters in Brisbane.

Australian Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said she hopes the Thomson saga doesn't become a “distraction” from more important issues such as child care and the Murray Darling Basin.

“Let's have a full account of what's happened so we can clear the air (but we need to) get on with things that actually matter,” she told ABC TV.

AAP

Tony Abbott intensifies pressure over embattled Labor MP Craig Thomson | The Australian

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