Doorstop - Parliament House

SUBJECTS: Craig Thomson saga; Peter Slipper E&OE……………   Pyne: Well, today Craig Thomson needs to pass an important test.  He needs to make a full explanation about the circumstances surrounding the misuse of $457,000 of Health Services Union member’s money.  Not just the allegations that have been turned into findings and facts by the Fair Work Australia report, but also the other allegations to do with kickbacks that he’s alleged to have received from the printer of the Health Services Union and whether he received any other credit cards or any other emoluments from third parties.  He needs to outline all of the legal expenses that have been paid to him by the NSW Labor Party, any loans that he’s received in order to keep him from bankruptcy.  He needs to explain why until recently he hasn’t been cooperating with the NSW and the Victorian Police.  If he doesn’t do these things, then effectively he’s been engaging in self justification, which all leaves more questions unanswered than answered.   Journalist: (inaudible)   Pyne: Well, they’re both entirely different matters.  The Craig Thomson scandal has been going for three years.  Fair Work Australia has made findings and facts in an 1100 page report, which are obviously very damming.  They involve embezzlement, fraud and the misuse of Health Services Union member’s money on prostitutes, personal expenses, electoral expenses and so forth.  The issue surrounding Bill Heffernan has been dismissed by the NSW Liberal Party President and State Director.  They put out a statement about that and in the absence of any other further information the police investigate every matter that’s put to them, but there’s been certainly nothing of the kind where we’re facing today with Craig Thomson   Journalist: (inaudible)   Pyne: Well, a statement about what?  No, Craig Thomson is making the statement today.  Craig Thomson has to pass the test today of whether he will give a full explanation of all the circumstances surrounding the misuse of almost half a million dollars of Health Services Union Members money and whether he received kickbacks from third parties and what legal fees he had paid by the NSW Labor Party and loans to keep him from bankruptcy and why he hasn’t been cooperating with the police. The NSW Liberal Party has put out a statement dismissing the claims made by a member of the Liberal Party from the Central Coast and quite frankly comparing the two is not comparing apples with apples.   Journalist: What would you do if (inaudible)   Pyne: Well, there are a number of things the Parliament can do.  Obviously we want to protect the reputation of the Parliament.  Craig Thomson needs to tell the truth today.  He needs to be entirely honest with the Parliament about the findings of the Fair Work Australia report and the other matters that I’ve raised.  If we examine his report of his statement and find that it doesn’t pass the truth test then there are actions the Parliament can take; matters to do with privilege, obviously the greatest sanction the Parliament can levy is to suspend a Member of Parliament.  That has happened on three occasions before, so given that we’ll examine all the options this week.  We will certainly be referring Craig Thomson to the privileges this morning or this afternoon when I get up on the floor to refer it over the issue of the non-disclosure of legal fees and loans from the NSW Labor party to him.  As for the other matters, we’ll examine his statement and make an assessment over the coming days about what action the Parliament should take, if any.   Journalist: (inaudible)   Pyne: The crossbenchers keep telegraphing their positions on the radio so I only need to turn on the radio to know the crossbenchers’ positions, but obviously I’ll speak to the crossbenchers during the week, as I often do.   Journalist: When it comes to honest Labor has often referred to your account of the emails that you couldn’t remember sending (inaudible).  Do you have any explanation for the change in your story and the email (inaudible)… Pyne: Well, I haven’t changed my story at any point at all.  As Manager of Opposition Business in the House my job is to liaise with the Speakers office and the Speaker and when Peter Slipper was Deputy Speaker and I do my job.  The email that surfaced last week was so innocuous it was almost boring and there’s no evidence at all of my involvement with Mr Ashby’s court case.  If anybody has any evidence they should produce it rather than simply make assertions. ENDS