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It’s sometimes referred to as “Cowards Court” for the ability of its members to make unsubstantiated claims without the threat of legal claim. I am of course speaking of Parliament House and the often liberal use of parliamentary privilege by MP’s.
Members seen to be abusing the system are referred to the Standing Committee Of Privileges And Members’ Interests. Once referred MP’s thought to have abused parliamentary privilege have their actions reviewed by a committee and a suitable punishment is handed down if required.
This morning the findings of the Standing Committee will be handed down to parliament after its lengthy analysis of one particular address to parliament by one Former MP.
That Former MP is Craig Thomson who’s lengthy address to parliament included allegations of some dodgy practices by several people, and how some of them may have related to allegations against him.
So shocked and appalled at bringing those the Coalition members had praised as “brave and decent” into disrepute the Coalition went to great length of making a parliamentary apology for any stress and damage to reputation that Thomson’s words may have caused.
Thomson giving his parliamentary address in May 2012
So what has become of these good folk that Thomson defamed?
Kathy Jackson is under investigation for approximately $1.4 Million she is alleged to have misappropriated from the HSU members she was supposed to protect.
Michael Lawler has been forced to step down in disgrace from his Tony Abbott appointed position as Vice President of Fair Work Commission after Senate held an independent inquiry into his behaviour.
Marco Bolano has disappeared from public view, but is privately alleged to be under police investigation for fraudulent workers compensation claims.
Michael Williamson, whom I don’t believe was part of the “Get Thomson Campaign”, is however sitting in a Cooma jail cell for his behaviour in relation to the running of the NSW branch of the HSU. These are the people the current government leapt to the defence of.
So what was the Standing Committee’s recommendation?
Here it is in full;
“The committee acknowledges and endorses the consistently held view that the privilege and contempt powers of the House should be exercised sparingly. In this case, the committee acknowledges Mr Thomson’s difficult personal situation in all the circumstances since the allegations about him first arose in the context of the HSU exit audit in 2007-8. These difficulties continued over a sustained period of pressure through various official investigations, reports and legal matters. In recommending punishment, the committee considers these difficulties to be a mitigating factor in what it now recommends. A finding of contempt by the House, and the condemnation that this would embody, in itself would be a very serious sanction. The committee considers that an appropriate penalty would be for the House to reprimand Mr Thomson for his conduct.”
A reprimand. I’ll bet Thomson is reeling.
It is no wonder that this finding is being handed down in a week where it will likely be lost in all the media surrounding the Double Dissolution and the Greens/Liberal alliance.
I asked Thomson just how much he was reeling when I caught up with him recently to commiserate the resignation of Michael Lawler.
The mood was solemn after news of Lawler’s resignation surfaced
Thomson’s response had more than a touch of tongue in cheek to it.
” I apologised to parliament for pointing out that Michael Williamson, Kathy Jackson and her partner Mr Lawler and Marco Bolano were all likely to be crooks.
As I have discovered, parliament doesn’t want to hear the truth instead preferring the lies and deceit of modern party politics.
Whilst I stand by every word of my speech, I understand that parliament having issued a formal apology to Kathy Jackson, Michael Lawler, Michael Williamson and Marco Bolano needed to keep true to their discredited version of events”
If the Standing Committee are there to ensure members of parliament are being honest in their statements to parliament, and not misleading parliament I wonder when Christopher Pyne and Tony Abbott will be before them for their statements regarding Kathy Jackson.
Meanwhile on the NSW South Coast things continue to become even more bizarre at the Jackson/Lawler home.
Recently of course we had a death of a mental patient at the home after neighbours reported a party, now in something that I’m sure must make the neighbours sleep with one eye open there is a new houseguest on the scene.
That guest is a new friend of Michael Lawler’s and his name is Kingsley John Kraschnefski.
Kingsley is a former soldier who was before court for allegedly threatening behaviour towards a female Defence psychiatrist. These allegations include texts and phone calls, and in the end his psychiatrist took out a protection order she was so scared of him. Remember, this is a medical professional, not some bitter former lover.
Kingsley has allegedly claimed to be a sniper and is also alleged to have claimed he still has weapons hidden somewhere. A comforting thought indeed.
Given the events surrounding the lives of those who have lived, and died, in the home of Jackson and Lawler, I have one piece of advice.
Keep the shades drawn.
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Also I remember Craig’s speech to Parliament included that Abbott was neither fit to be a member of Parliament nor the Prime Minister. His own party confirmed the latter by its vote ousting him. No one would surely believe Brough would have not sought his advice before going off[along with others already identified – RC anyone?] and committing the crimes to “get Slipper”!
But, but, but, what he said was RIGHT.
Fucking unbelievable.
And on the odd occasion Craig’s name is mentioned in QT he’s usually referred to as a “convicted criminal” or similar. An unbridled RC is certainly required David!!!
Right on the money again Peter. If ever there need to be a Royal Commission it is against this government’s handling of itself now and when in opposition in the 43rd parliament.
The common theme is skullduggery, led by Abbott, Brandis and Abetz in both this and the Slipper affair as well. In my opinion all of these people should be in Prison for a very long time. (The Politicians from the Liberal party that is). maybe it would wake them up to a few realities.
A very perceptive analysis, Peter, of the lengths an immoral government will go to in order to protect its since-proved-to-be-false assertions of who the real criminals were – and still are. As well as identifying the hypocritical and intellectually and ethically-challenged politicians, and Murdoch’s mercenaries of the mainstream press, we have to include for condemnation the lawyers who have acted on behalf of the criminals Thomson named in his speech to parliament. These judges include the TURC Royal Commissioner and chief prosecutor, both of whom gave Jackson pre-commission assurance and coaching and betrayed their unlawful partiality but still decided for themselves that they were fit to control proceedings. Australia is in a vey bad way right now. Those in power are concerned only with retaining their power and rejecting anything that stands in their way, including scientific truths as well as proper legal procedures.
No one in Parliament wants to hear the truth. They just waffle on and do nothing. I know Craig Thomson, and would stand by him. He is a true gentleman who has been used as a scapegoat
Like the slipper affair. A man’s career, health, marriage (in slippers case) and future job prospects destroyed for what. Brough resigns from the seat he destroyed slipper to win and then this -a reprimand.
I don’t know Craig Thompson, have never met him. However, being a perceptive person I have always believed in his innocence. The evidence has always been obvious and there for all to see. I remember him saying the threats that were made to him and when the so called ‘evidence’ of credit card payments to hookers emerged it seemed obvious to me that this was a set up. This is so obviously a crude school boy style payback. The real criminal, Kathy Jackson, backed up by those who would trash our democracy, became the whistle blower and untouchable darling of the right. I am so sorry Craig that you have had to endure all this. I am so sorry for all of us that our country and rule of law should have come to this.
Your dedicated journalism revealed the dirt that is the Tory right. I had pleasure in sending the article to Pyne and Abbott with a few words on their pedigree. Thanks Pete for your work on behalf of Thommo
I’d put this LNP government akin to those barbarians ISIS, and they are allegedly running our country very worry some indeed.
Lawlers appearance on four corners had the look of a deliberate attempt to act loony to support the use of a mental health defense for his criminal and corrupt actions as well as maybe to scare anyone who ever spoke to him on the phone into silence. Surely there is no way he can use the mental defense for the times he secretly helped Jackson’s LNP assisted attack on Thomson that long ago. This was a case based on blatant corruption which is still being pursued by FFA to this day. Is every one that scared of him, that he will take them down. Where are the workers comp insurance investigators? Jackson on workers comp Lawler on workers comp Bolano on workers comp and other members of their group on workers comp! This lot are more corrupt than FIFA and it seems Turnbull intends to let them get away with it as well as Lawler get a pension for life.. for christs sake they are still gobbling up Rofe’s estate and wonder if they’ve got Kraschnefski.’s guns, were they grooming him for an act of terror? The bankrupt and persecuted Craig Thomson couldn’t get any consideration for his mental condition after years of prosecution accusation and public humiliation i suppose because he couldn’t pay enough for his medical certificate. If Lawler has been insane for years does that mean all his judgements over that time are void? Is the Jackson Lawler greed an LNP thing? They sure took the Mirribella Colin Howard scam seriously. That these criminals could turn up at that royal commission and get treated with kid gloves is bad enough but that they did it and abused witness and lied while on workcover is beyond belief. Do they still ask questions in parliament? Maybe table the Jacksonville book. Next pension day I better give you another donation Peter, don’t want you have to stop and see them get away with it
Lawler needs to know a few things about Kraschnefski…before bailing him out….Kraschnefski has never been deployed overseas…And alcoholic nut case…but im sure Lawler can afford the 2 grand surety…im sure that Kraschnefski’s bail has been broken by now…