It is NOT the Opposition who are requiring Thomson to (at last) stand and explain himself in light of the FWA Report. It's the Parliament itself. It has to be. Otherwise the Speaker would overule - and disallow this.
As a Public servant, paid by the public Purse, Thomsmon is now required to rebutt, in front of his peers, to Parliament, these allegations against him. There is an ACT which requires Public Servants to have to measure up to certain behavioural standards. If they have black marks against them already, they will not be employed in the first place.
This procedure, requiring Thomson to have stand and offer his version of events, and proclaim his innocence, (albeit at a time of his own choosing, which is lenient, moreso when he offered to do so eight months ago, and didn't) - MUST be normal Parliamentary practice always applicable in such serious situations concerning such dire allegations, as otherwise Labor would do the darndest to stymie this, and surely the Speaker would know the relevant rulings, forbid it, in consultation with her Clerks, and ensure she's right by taking legal and Constitutional advice.
Sutely moreso, also, when one of the political Parties are, in fact, paying all the legal bills of the person facing the allegations, allegedly to save him from bankruptcy and therefore them from losing his vote allowing their political survival.
The fact that they are going to continue to pay this person's legal bills, and then have the gall to verbally trash Abbott, as if this were all some devious plot of his, is mind boggling in it's vicious arrogance.
If Labor are set on stopping Thomson having to rise and explain - and such a requirement is deemed by them as out of order - why haven't they already applied to the Speaker, and Parliament, to stop this happening? Because, they infer, by this false "leave this poor man alone protection cloak" attitude they resort to in desperation, that this requirement is the result of some devious Liberal plot, and try to stymie what must be required Parliamentary procedure.
So suggest Labor stop blaming Abbott for what is nothing to do with him whatsoever - it's Parliament which requires it, under it's democratic law.
