Craig Thomson Blames HSU Official for Destruction of Evidence that Would Clear Him of Charges

Embattled independent MP Craig Thomson is expected to blame in Australia's Parliament on Monday a Health Services Union (HSU) official for allegedly destroying documents that would clear him of charges.

Mr Thomson is expected to point to Kathy Jackson, the current national secretary of the HSU, as the culprit. A Fair Work Australia report said that Mr Thomson spend union funds for personal expenses including food, the services of prostitutes and for his election campaign.

The MP is slated to address the Parliament on Monday. He is not expected to introduce new evidence, but to give a chronological account of events and name officials who he believes framed him to destroy his political career.

In the past, Ms Jackson has rejected her predecessor's claim. There are, however, questions over the links of Ms Jackson, who is the whistleblower, with FWA Vice President Michael Lawler who is her partner, and Opposition leader Tony Abbott. Messrs Lawler and Abbott are friends who have been seen to socialise regularly together, reports Indymedia.org.au.

Other facts that place a question on Ms Jackson's ties are her hiring Stuart Wood as her lawyer. Mr Wood is the former vice president of HR Nicholls Society, a right-wing lobby group with close links to the Liberal Party.

Mr Thomson is accused of using $500,000 of HSU funds when he served as the union's national secretary from 2002 to 2007. About $300,000 was spent on his election campaign for the federal seat of Dobell, which the Australian Electoral Commission said the MP has declared in accordance with the Electoral Act.

About $6,000 was spent on sex trade workers based on transactions in his credit cards. Mr Thomson allegedly phone an escort service three times in April 2005 and once in August 2007, although he denied making the calls and insisted his phone was hacked.

Amid the scandal, the Australian Council of Trade Unions members met in Canberra to discuss its future due to the decline in union membership. Australian Workers Union President Paul Howes warned that another HSU-sized scandal could sound the death knell for unions.