Peter

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Today Craig Thomson once again found himself in court with his wife Zoe by his side in support. This time around however he had a little more time to prepare, and to organise counsel.

In a short appearance, Thomson was granted bail on the 154 charges before him.

The last time Thomson saw the inside of a courtroom was way back last week, Thursday in fact. This was the day that Victoria Police rocked up to Thomson’s office with a posse of NSW detectives, on the premise of a dodgy warrant, to lay fraud charges for purchasing an ice cream and the like.

Craig Thomson and his wife Zoe

Craig Thomson and his wife Zoe

Thomson asked the question yesterday, probably not really expecting an answer, if he was the only person in Australia to have a charge of fraud brought against them for less than $20. It’s an interesting question, as each charge has its own paperwork, and requires its own mention in court, it does seem to be rather daft to lay such petty charges at the taxpayers expense. If the Victorian Police are looking for a more intelligent investment of time and money, then I’d suggest going into a pyramid scheme with the Nigerian Royal Family.

Victorian Police have the slogan “The Way Ahead”. Well, if spending thousands of dollars, countless police hours, and using up court time to charge someone for buying a $12 ice cream is “The Way Ahead”, then I’ve clearly been facing the wrong direction all my life. To me this would only be the way ahead if your head was sticking out of your arse. Even Joe Hockey could figure out that this is a glowing example of dud math.

Speaking of math, most people are not aware that each alleged offence in this case is actually two charges. The doubled number is reported so it looks worse for the defendent, it looks like things are twice as bad as they are. The second charge is laid for the authorisation of the alleged purchase, for example buying an ice cream is a charge, signing the credit card slip authorising payment for the ice cream is another.

At Craig’s brief appearance in Wyong Court on Thursday after his strip search which was first reported here, the magistrate handed down the conditions of bail. One of those conditions that you may have heard about is that Thomson not make contact with any sex workers that he is alleged to have seen in the past. This received quite a bit of commentary when it became known.

However, there are two things you may not have realised about that bail condition. One is that the bail conditions were determined by Victoria Police, not the magistrate. The other is that the magistrate, that’s right the judge, actually made comment that she believed that this bail condition was highly inappropriate.

Funny, I don’t recall seeing that reported anywhere else at all. Why not?

The Victorian Police, the same ones who lied regarding the non-existent December warrant, and the same clever crew spending thousands upon thousands of dollars to charge a guy for spending 12, actually set the bail conditions. That third condition was certainly designed for the press, absolutely designed to portray guilt, and so inappropriate in the extreme that a judge felt the need to comment on the record. 

With standards like this the Victorian Police seem slightly less reliable than a pitchfork damaged water-bed. I’m somewhat surprised that they didn’t make not invading Poland a condition of bail, they may as well have.

With Police setting bail conditions to intentionally portray guilt, and such a high-profile case  having such dodgy warrant procedure, I think that an investigation into police conduct regarding this case is required.

The ridiculous bail condition was ammended by the prosectution today so as not to imply guilt, and so that Thomson could be made aware of whom he was not supposed to talk to. As Thomson denies using the brothels, it would be hard to determine who he had apparently slept with in the imagination of others.

There has also been a lot of talk of Christopher Pyne and David Bradbury’s appearance on Lateline on Friday night, and the comparisons between the Craig Thomson case and the Mary Jo Fischer case.

Oops, I forgot about Mary Jo and her sticky fingers...

Oops, I forgot about Mary Jo and her sticky fingers…

Christopher Pyne said that it was unfair and inappropriate to compare the two cases and if anyone is an expert on the inappropriate, it’s Pyne.

I’m afraid that on this one it seems, I am going to have to agree with Pyne. But before your jaw drops so far that you wish you were wearing steel caps, let me explain why.

  • Thomson was not charged with a violent crime, Fischer was charged with assault
  • Since the story became public, Thomson has had no allegations of other alleged crimes, Mary Jo Fischer re-offended
  • Allegations against Thomson were prior to his being an MP, Fischer’s were while she was representing the Liberal party in the Senate.
  • Craig Thomson has not been found guilty of anything, Mary Jo Fischer has been found guilty in a court of law.
  • Craig Thomson has been suspended from the Labor party pending the outcome, Mary Jo Fischer, despite the guilty outcome is still a member of the Liberal Party, in Pynes state even.

Unfair comparison indeed.

Another thing that I find odd, is that Thomson is now an Independent, however according to the Coalition his previous Labor Party membership, and being elected as a Labor member means that any controversy around him reflects on the ALP.

Logic would therefore mean that Peter Slipper is reflective of Liberal values. He was preselected many, many, many times as a Liberal member. Far more times than Thomson. He was Deputy Speaker as a Liberal Member. It seems the Liberal Party didn’t like him only once he was promoted to Speaker.

In fact the differences between Mary Jo Fischer and Thomson and Slipper could not be greater. Fischer was allowed to resign from the Senate with dignity,  Labor members shaking her hand, wishing her the best, and paying their respects.

Compare that with the relentless onslaught of accusations and character assassination aimed at Thomson and Slipper for the better part of two years by the opposition, led by cheerleaders Abbott and Pyne. The choreography of their staged managed “Thomson, The Musical” production with police, Premiers, and State Ministers dancing to their tune rivals the choreography of a Britney Spears concert.  With dancing talents like those below, it’s easy to see a career path ahead for Abbott.

Actually, upon a second look, it looks like Abbott has spent more time on dancing lessons than he has on making policies.

Lots more time.

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96 thoughts on “Here We Go Again”

  1. You may remember he only found out what the charges were last week…. And police have stated they are not ready to proceed

  2. That’s right, it’s only an appearance in May to set a date for trial… I got that wrong

  3. The reason the coppers are putting in charges for ice cream is almost certainly to tie Thompson into other charges.
    I mean really, his defence is he didnt do it! he wasnt there! Give me a break! Steals from poorly paid workers I hope he gets twenty years and is bankrupted!

  4. I’d say not being there is a pretty good defense…. Hard to do something in one place if your in another

    If he is guilty, he should most definitely be charged, but it’s is a pretty big IF

  5. Maybe one day someone will allege you have stolen from a group of people whilst you could not possibly have so because you were somewhere else. I wonder if you then would jugde yourself with the same yardstick as you are doing Craig Thomson, and you would be pleased to be sent to jail.

  6. Peter, did you read Jonathan Green’s article on the ABC this morning urging Craig Thomson to resign? How hypocritical! I just responded it and wonder whether they will publish it.

  9. My comment just came up. There is hope yet for you, Wixxy!

    Jonathan Green’s concern for the voters of Dobell smacks of concern trolling, as does another commenter’s expressed concern for Craig Thomson’s mental health.

  10. Yes, will be interesting. Are the transactions really existing. Is it his card, his account. Who is accountable. It is looking like he will get off the charges as it has to be 100% proven. Even if he is slightly guilty, thats not enough. As he was saying, charging him for $12 icecream for example. It is petty, granted. Mud sticks. And the Labor background has some mud on it at present. Seems the union officials do play will nilly with union funds, kinda like how executives play with company credit cards. What i like is the name calling, I go by whoever is calling the most names at the other as the guilty loser. Once people get in a position of some power without much accountability the position is abused, both financially and with its authority. This goes for everything, Unions, Political parties, Company boards, CEO’s, executives, government departments, instructors etc.

  12. My comment still has not come up on ABC, so i expect it might not. Mind you i mentioned Ashby gate and Cathy Jackson, which might not have been considered suitable. Who know? But i am glad your comment appeared and a good one it was too.

  13. Oh noes! I’ve reloaded the Drum page and my comment has disappeared. I hope that this is not a case of ABC censorship. And I can’t see your comment, Wixxy. Maybe you should post it here.

  14. I saw your comment on there… It’s still there
    Mine hasn’t come up yet and I didn’t save a copy…

  15. Peter, i thought this was your comment on the ABC, but maybe i am wrong. I can not see Silkworms comment either.

    Is this yours, Peter?

    Peter:
    07 Feb 2013 11:24:53am
    A dangerous argument. Next a seriously ill politician or a politician with a seriously ill partner will be required to stand down as they might be presumed to devote more time to recovery than representation. Soon after that the mother of a young baby. How can they be devoted to the job?

    The argument might also extend to civil proceedings. Yes they do not have to attend court when sitting in Parliament but I know from first hand experience (at a time when I was also quite ill) they can be very time consuming. I am afraid distractions are part of life.

  16. Hm, first it was there, then it disappeared, now it’s back up again.

    I still don’t trust the ABC. I still think they’re biased. Gillard has made a big mistake by not clearing out the executive of all the Howard appointees.

  17. On the bright side, there is a perfect opportunity to get Kathy Jackson on the stand – if the prosecution don’t call her (and I assume they will have to) – Thomson should subpoena her himself, if only for her role in assembling the documentation. I think there is a profile of her in the Australian from 2011 when she coyly admits her former husband has “secrets”, Jeff Jackson on the stand also would be interesting.

    I don’t think Ms Jackson made a great impression in her recent outings in court.

  18. Green’s article is repugnant. It has to just be just pushing the LieBeral line. There has been a lot of “fuss” made of this by the Abbott mob, (tainted vote etc) Imagine Anna Burke ( if the right nutters had their way) Aye’s to the right Nays to the left “Tainted Votes over in the corner “.
    With the full import of RAREs decision and the state of the numbers, anyone who is not troubled is a “Tea Party ( australian branch) rusted on blinkered adherent or hasn’t enquired much, outside of the normal sources of FACT???
    To use concern for the electorate or Thomson’s mental health is only to cloak the argument in respectable ‘concepts” to further PUSH Thomson. Who else bar Lindy Chamberlain has been treated like this. You haven’t seen “normal” process at any stage of this little game.
    He is guilty of NOTHING till the court process is finished with. He has been so prejudged and pilloried that it would be hard to imagine him getting a fair trial in this country.99% of readers of MSM have already decided he is GUILTY. Lynch mob mentality It started in the parliament with the Credlin/abbott deciding on the kangaroo court technique. Disgusting!..

  19. The Drum is pretty appalling for censorship on comments in relation to all of their articles bar the editorials for their tech section. For some reason they never close those comments and allow a whole bunch of ad hominem attacks there, but then don’t include the articles in the Drum Archive (forcing you to look them up in the Tech and Games section) once they get bumped by other Drum articles.

  20. Posted a reply to Green, was not abusive merely responded with facts. Doubt it will pass the censor, they don’t like it up em.

  22. How can he ever be charged with a crime that did not exist.

    It’s like retrospective laws being passed by Brendan O”Connor to pretend that everyone who helps refugees is a criminal smuggler.

    That finally forced the judiciary to wake up to the lies told and now we almost never lock any of them up.

  23. I hope you let me post here Wixxy, even though a bit off topic, as the ABC don’t seem interested in what I have to say. Anyway, it was pretty much just an observation that everything Jonathan Green has said on ABC Drum today re “Thomson should quit” is just from the land of pretend – unless of course Craig Thomson has been sending his punch card over to Jonathan Green “9am – 10am: worrying about court”,”10.30am – 11.00am: representing constituents”,”11.00am – 12.30pm: distracted by media throng at the door”… FFS Jonathan Green has no idea what Craig Thomson does with his time (outside of court or the cop shop), or what is going on in his head. I’m sick of journalism and opinion from the land of pretend.

  24. Don’t let it get to you, they didn’t put my comment up either, despite my tax dollars paying for the post…

  25. Would it nad been any different, if he hired Walt Disney videos. What has the type of video got to do with the court matter.

    What comprises, as porn within a good hotel. Who decided the videos were porn.

  26. I reckon that the ABC is so scared that “poor old Tones” might not be getting over the line that they do anything they can to stop people from doubting them. Well at least that i am convincing myself about this because i might have to leave the country should Tones get into the Lodge and i am getting to old now to start again somewhere else. It looks like quite a few of us got the same treatment from the ABC.

  27. I suspect it would have been much easier for Thomson if he did resign early in the piece. It would have been less stressful and cheaper. I also suspect he might not have been arrested now,

    He is still doing, as he was elected for, looking after his electorate.

    He was arrested in his office.

  28. Wonder when Abbott was last in his office. I believe he is hard to find, is one needs assistance. As he travels to two and three stated each day. leaves little time for the constituents.,

  30. Well, for all it is worth, the Drum didn’t and won’t put mine up as called them for what they now are….’low-life sons of b,s.’……never did like that Jonathan Green..and his squeeky voice grates over the radio.
    ABC. : traitors central.

  31. Given Jonathan’s worry about distractions, surely Ken Lay (acting Vic Police Commissioner) has too many distractions…

    He is currently a board member of the Blue Ribbon Foundation, a past board member of the Alpine Valley Community Leadership Program and is a fellow of the Gippsland Community Leadership Program. He sits on numerous professional boards and committees. He is a former chair of the Australian and New Zealand Road Policing Forum, a member of Victorian Ministerial Advisory Council on Motor Cycles, the Sentencing Advisory Council, and the Coronial Advisory Council. He is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the International Association of Police Chiefs and the Australasian College of Road Safety. (source http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=44)

  32. And another thing, didn’t ABC John Faine get in trouble with management over his interview with Michael Smith & co because he was expressing his opinion and not being balanced.. ABC meet kettle and pot.

  33. Both Jonathan Green and the ABC. management are well informed that this whole Thomson saga began with and has continued with the singular objective of bringing down the govt’…Black, white or grey areas aside, THAT is its’ objective.
    That is an act of treason.
    That being so, and this govt’ being a legitimate coalition sworn in by The Crown’s representative (we are not yet a republic) and accepted by the People of Aust’….any action to destroy or bring down this govt’ is logically not only treason against the Constitution and people of Aust’, it is an insult and act of treason against The Crown and it’s representative : The Governor General. For surely, the very existence of the GG’s office gives authority to the premise that IT and IT only has the power to summarily make or break the government by the authority of The Crown..
    If a Governor General can dismiss a govt’ it considers unworthy for The Crown, then any party that acts to diminish or presume the authority of The Crown ought to be brought to justice.
    The ABC., in apparent collusion with these parties has to answer alongside those who would insult The Crown, the Constitution and the People of Australia.

  34. Jaycee,
    excellent observaton.!!
    Just add the Slipper one to it as well, particularly Mal Brough

  35. “although I am led to believe another brother is a high ranking police officer in NSW.” Err, that’s Michael Lawler’s brother. He must also be disgusted in the “special” treatment meted out to Mr Thompson? One would hope!!

  36. I just posted this on IA:
    “Being a great grandson of Irish Famine(orchestrated english genocide!)refugees, I’ve always maintained an intense dislike for the WASPs of the born to rule Lie-beral Party. To my horror, there is now an equally disgusting breed emerging, the far right wing catholics. Namely Pell, an unhealthy chunk of the opposition front bench, including our beloved LOTO, and his close family friends the Lawlors! God help us!!!” What would Dr Mannix say!!

  38. Well as a country we are ALL going bankrupt under this mob of corrupt fools, my only problem with the Victorian Police is why they have taken SO long to bring these charges? Maybe it is because Gillard can control Fair Work Australia because she put one of her corrupt buddies into the top job……..The Victorian Police are taking far too long to bring charges in relation to the AWU scandal also, maybe before too long our jails will have quite a few Labor pollies as residents!!!!….Hurry up and bring on an election before they do more damage that our kids will pay for forever!!

  39. Funny, the dramas with FWA is because someone was appointed by Abbott…
    Lawler is engaged to Jackson who is the original person making the claims against Thomson.

    Jackson is the one Abbott told parliament is admirable, and she is also the one currently being investigated for allegations of missing members money in the millions, not an ice cream or in-house movie….

    I understand your frustration in the police taking so long to bring these charges against Thomson, it must take years and years for them to find a single witness, at least one that can be described as reliable

  41. if people checked out the HARD evidence they wouldn’t make the assumptions of a witch hunt above. Try reading all the information on Michael Smith News.

  43. guidelines do not need to be written for a person to know that paying for prostitutes is not part of the deal – if he did so

  44. I have read all of the information on Michael Smith news and will have a post up on Smiths input tomorrow.

    I was waiting on a reply to an email I sent him on Saturday, but like his logic, his email has failed

  45. Like who? Kathy Jackson, Michael Lawler, Eric Abetz, George Brandis…
    They should be worried

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