Craig Thomson: I Have Done Nothing Wrong
Beleaguered MP Craig Thomson has spoken and was mostly successful in buying more time for his stay in the Parliament, which was threatened by ongoing efforts from the Coalition to move him out of the way.
Senior Coalition leader Christopher Pyne was far from impressed when Mr Thomson took the floor for at least an hour on Monday, revealing allegations that former colleagues from the Health Services Union (HSU), which he belonged to before becoming a federal lawmaker, had conspired to destroy his political career.
Claims aired by the former Labor MP, Mr Pyne said, failed to address the accusations hurled against him, chief of which was he misused HSU funds that according to a probe conducted by Fair Work Ombudsman reached $500,000.
More than half of the funds that Mr Thomson had personally accessed, the FWA probe said, was utilised for the Dobell MP's election and the rest were spent to finance his private expenses, including the use of escort services.
But Mr Thomson argued today that he was framed by personalities within the HSU, who he allegedly offended by trying to enforce transparent measures in the union group while serving as its top-ranking official between 2001 and 2007.
"I have consistently and on many occasions made it clear I have done nothing wrong," the lawmaker was quoted by Reuters as saying in his emotional speech.
Holding off tears, Mr Thomson added that the accusations that arose from the FWA probe not only tarnished his reputation but also brought anguish to his personal life, with revelations that threats on his safety and that of his family were sent by unidentified sources.
While quick to label the revelations as insufficient, Mr Pyne told The Australian that the Coalition may need to verify Mr Thomson's story prior to deciding on what to do next.
Hours before the former Labor MP spoke out, the Coalition has called on the Parliament to suspend Mr Thomson, a move that according to Mr Pyne will safeguard the reputation of the House of Representative.
He added that Mr Thomson needs only to tell the truth and doing the otherwise could merit for him the ire of the Parliament, which has the power to take him out of action for a specific amount of time.
Such scenario, according to a former Labor colleague of Mr Thomson, may not transpire anytime soon, thanks much to the speech he unleashed today, which the Labor insider cited by The Australian saw as successfully "raised enough doubt to strengthen the case for allowing the legal processes to run their course."
Mr Thomson's momentary triumph was evident in the sentiments aired by two key independent MPs immediately after the embattled MP was done with his speech.
Tony Windsor and Andrew Wilkie told reporters that upon hearing what Mr Thomson had to say, they were not in the position to pass judgement on the supposedly erring MP, who political observers surmised was in the brink of giving up his Parliamentary seat.
"I think due process should take place," Mr Windsor said, adding that is not the Parliament's function to act as both judge and jury on the Thomson scandal.
Mr Wilkie added that Mr Thomson must be accorded the opportunity to face up the charges against him, stressing that "we must accord him the presumption of innocence no matter how much that grates."
And the one personality that presumably will be affected most by Mr Thomson's departure from the Parliament, Prime Minister Julia Gillard, has refused to be dragged further into the issue.
"I'm not engaging with these matters half a world away," Ms Gillard was reported by the Australian Associated Press (AAP) as saying hours before the Mr Thomson was to make his speech.
"Mr Thomson's statement is a matter for Mr Thomson," said Ms Gillard, who is attending the NATO summit being held in Chicago.