Sprintcyclist wrote on Jan 21^st, 2014 at 1:21pm:



There are a dozen topics showing plumes of smoke billowing out from around Abbott, would you like this opinion copied to them as well?

Bobby. wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2014 at 5:39pm:



its weird isnt it.. he isnt even going to deny anything anymore.. just prove the union never said he couldnt use the credit card for his own benefits...

if he pulls that one.. I bet there will be a mad scramble to get all those who have company credit card to immediately sign legal documents saying to be used only for company business and that doesnt include brothels or porn films..hahahaha

as far as I can make out he hasnt any money anyway,,,well thats what he has been saying cant pay his lawyers........poor me...so how they will get any money out of him is a mystery??..

kind of reminiscent of  why didnt gillard sue pickering..

can you see him goin g to jail if he is found guilty???...

I cant....at least he isnt an MP anymore and never will be again I hope...so thats something to be thankful for...

St George of the Garden wrote on Jan 23^rd, 2014 at 7:33am:


Still makes him a thief    

St George of the Garden wrote on Jan 23^rd, 2014 at 7:44am:

Thomson's credit cards ' business only'

The union-issued credit cards allegedly misused by former MP Craig Thomson should not have been used for personal expenses, his hearing has been told.

Thomson, 49, is facing 145 dishonesty charges over the alleged misuse of $28,449 on Health Services Union (HSU) credit cards to pay for escorts, movies and personal travel while he was the organisation's national secretary and a Labor MP.

HSU Victoria No. 4 Branch Secretary Rosemary Kelly told the Melbourne Magistrates Court the cards should have only covered expenses that furthered the union's interest.

Ms Kelly said if a union leader was on a business trip, then incidental expenses could be covered by the cards, but should have been repaid.

'You wouldn't take the credit cards with you wherever you went and pay for personal expenses if you were in another city on business,' she said.

The hearing continues before Magistrate Charlie Rozencwajg.

http://www.skynews.com.au/topstories/article.aspx?id=943430&cid=BP_RSS_TOPSTORIE...
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cods wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2014 at 10:04pm:


he isnt even going to deny anything anymore. just prove the union never said he couldnt use the credit card for his own benefits...

In a legal case it probably makes more sense to attack the weak point at the top of the process instead of arguing about 10 or 20 sub topics individually.

However if he is guilty he should get what he deserves.

[http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/policy/thomson-escort-memo-in-spotlight/story-fn59noo3-1226807139001#][/url]




HEALTH Services Union whistleblower Kathy Jackson, who helped bring allegations against Craig Thomson to light, will take the stand to give evidence against the former Labor MP, along with a handwriting expert who is expected to confirm whether Mr Thomson wrote the name of an escort agency company on one of his expense claims.

Mr Thomson, who lost his seat at the last election after standing as an independent, is charged with using HSU funds during his time as national secretary to pay for personal benefits, including escorts, pornographic movies, brothel visits and flights for his then wife.

The criminal case against him, now being heard in the Melbourne Magistrates Court, was launched following a long campaign by Ms Jackson, who followed Mr Thomson in the role of HSU national boss.

Her former husband, Jeff Jackson, yesterday gave brief testimony about how union credit cards were expected to be used.

The former Victorian branch No 1 secretary said he was unaware of any formal policies but expected staff would use their "sensibility charter" when charging expenses.

Greg James QC, representing Mr Thomson, declined to cross examine Mr Jackson, prompting prosecutor Lesley Taylor SC to say she assumed the defence had "abandoned" claims factional warfare was a key driver in the allegations. "Kathy Jackson is still to come," Mr James replied.

Belinda Ord, who worked as a bookkeeper under Mr Thomson, told the court he usually gave a receipt or short memo when justifying expenses or cash withdrawals on his union-issued credit cards.

One memo from May 7, 2005, shows Mr Thomson claimed $770 for a "dinner function" in Sydney, where he was the only person identified as present.

"The above meeting has been claimed as a business expense," the memo says, with a handwritten note of "Internat Immobiliare" added to the page.

The court has previously heard International Immobiliare is the trading name of Boardroom Escorts in Sydney.

It is alleged Mr Thomson ordered an escort called Alina from that service on May 6, 2005, with $770 charged for one hour of sexual services.

Ms Ord told the court it was not her handwriting on the memo, and Mhttp://www.ozpolitic.com/yabbfiles/Templates/Forum/default/highlight.gifs Taylor said evidence from a handwriting expert would be called.

Ms Ord said no other staff withdrew cash from their union credit cards. She said she couldn't recall Mr Thomson ever saying his cash withdrawals were for non-union expenses, and didn't believe he ever gave her money to reimburse the union for any personal expenses.

Ms Ord said a document about the use of union credit cards was drawn up at Mr Thomson's instruction after a union employee used her card to pay for an astrology subscription.

The document clarified that union cards were for business expenses only, but Mr James said it wasn't intended that the document of rules would apply to his client. Ms Ord replied: "Why wouldn't it?"

The hearing continues.

buzzanddidj wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2014 at 7:58pm:


Is that before or after he serves a five year prison term?

"Tickling the till"........do you mean stealing?

Stop BSing Buz......

Skin as thick as a rhino. A genuine sociopath.