Federal Labor MP Craig Thomson will not be subject to a criminal investigation by New South Wales Police. Naturally! Corrupt police always protect corrupt politicans. Has been so since the dawn of time.
Mr Thomson, whose seat plays a critical role in the Gillard government’s balance of power, is under pressure over how his Health Services Union credit card was used to pay for prostitutes while he was heading up the union. How come? Hasn’t the Union always prostituted itself?
The Member for Dobell has admitted authorising the payment to an escort service in 2005 – but has said another man used the card and forged his signature. Well now, we may have guessed it was someone else’s fault – isn’t it always?
In a statement issued overnight, police said there was no basis for a formal investigation into any offence under New South Wales law. Even if there had been [and many think that is the case] I am sure the orders from the rat-face via the Commissioner would have ensured the same outcome.
Police media spokeswoman Joanne Elliot says the State Crime Fraud and Cyber Crime Squad made its assessment after receiving a letter from shadow attorney-general George Brandis about the credit card’s use. State Crime Fraud and Cyber Crime Squad? Does this mean the crooks in the police have their own squad?
“Based on the subsequent material and information provided to NSW Police by the Health Services Union, including a 120-page document relating to their own examination of the use of Mr Thomson’s credit card, it was concluded that based on the accounting practices of the union relating to the use of corporate credit cards there was no evidence to warrant a formal investigation by NSW police,” she said. Surprise, surprise.
However, NSW Police are sending the material to Victorian Police because the financial controls of the Health Services Union are conducted out of the Melbourne office.
Police in Victoria have told the ABC they are waiting for the referral from NSW, and will assess it before deciding what action should be taken. If any, of course. No bets on what that outcome will be.
Senator Brandis has told AM he does not owe Mr Thomson an apology. Why should anyone owe a criminal an apology?
“Not at all,” he said. Right on!
“The police in New South Wales have decided that, regardless of what you think of that, they don’t consider it reaches the threshold of a prosecution. But the facts remain.” The facts should not be allowed to get in the way of political expediency.
But Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan told Radio National Breakfast that the comments by NSW Police are clear. Especially if they came directly from the Rat-face via her mouthpiece the Commissioner.
“I notice that Mr Brandis is still out there throwing mud again this morning, but this is quite a categorical statement.” I wonder what is meant by this mumbo-jumbo. I would ask Swan but I doubt if he would know either.
Thomson issued a statement saying: “I have always rejected claims of wrongdoing in these matters … I will make a comprehensive statement in the near future.” Ah, yes, I was waiting for this ubiquitous political claim that “I have done nothing wrong” One would think that even lame-brained [should that be no-brained] politicians would have a better phrase to cover their criminal activities.
Senator Brandis when asked if he owed an apology to Mr Thomson, Senator Brandis said: “Not at all. What I and others have brought to light shows a course of conduct by him, over years, in which he used members’ money as if it were his own.” I thought that was one of the perks of being a Union hack in a top job. One cannot fault Thomson for that since all Union officials are tarred with the same brush.
But Mr Thomson and union boss Michael Williamson, then senior figures at the union, were allegedly provided with credit cards by a graphic design business that was paid exorbitant amounts to produce a union newsletter. More commonly known as “backhanders” and of course, nothing new.
Union accounts reveal the business, run by John and Carron Gilleland, received about $670,000 a year to produce 10 issues of the newsletter Health Standard – up to 10 times what other unions pay. Nice pickings if one can get them. No corruption there of course.
Mr Williamson has denied allegations he “ran amok” with the credit card, which were directed at him by Mrs Gilleland at an HSU function this year. Mr Thomson has not made any comment. The “merde” in which he is submerged is deep enough without his qualifying it further.
Senator Brandis today wrote to NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione requesting that he “make an assessment and, if appropriate, direct your officers to make an investigation”. Ha, more time wasted sending letters to a hack controlled by a rat-face.
The Liberal frontbencher said there appeared to be a prima facie case of a “corrupt commission” being paid under section 249B of the Crimes Act. Won’t happen.
“It may well be that the NSW Police conclude that on the basis of the material that is published … there is not enough to go on with to a prosecution,” Senator Brandis said. He got that right. A snowball in hell has a better chance.
“But there certainly seems to be evidence of a course of dealing between Mr Thomson and this supplier to the union … of which he was at the time national secretary, and the conferral on Mr Thomson of a benefit.”
Senator Brandis said he had not contacted the NSW Police Minister about the matter, as he had done with the previous referral and attracted Labor criticism for breaching the separation of powers. Since the Police Minister in NSW is no doubt party to the wishes of the rat-face in charge of the country where is the separation of powers?
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said both Mr Thomson and Prime Minister Julia Gillard owed the Parliament an explanation. Yes, and is that not a squadron of porkers flying overhead? Let’s face it. If either of these degenerates makes a statement it will be patently false.
The rat-face leader needs this crooked Union hack more than ever to retain her elevated post – too much to hope he gets his just deserts followed by her preferred rapid departure.