Another Labor crook.
Former federal Labor MP Craig Thomson has pleaded guilty to offences relating to fraudulent applications for natural disaster and Covid-19 pandemic government relief, eight years after he was found guilty ofusing union money on sex workers and fine dining.
The 59-year-old is facing a prison sentence of up to 10 years after appeared at Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday morning ahead of a four day hearing in which he was initially set to defend the charges.
In 2022 Thomson wascharged with two counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, publishing misleading material to obtain advantage and making a false document to obtain financial advantage.
He has pleaded guilty to two counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception, and one count of publish false misleading material to obtain advantage has been withdrawn.
A fourth count of make false document to obtain financial advantage will be dealt with at a later date.
At the time of his arrest, police said Thomson was charged after he allegedly made fraudulent applications for the Small Business Covid-19 Support grant and the Covid-19 Small Business Hardship grant.
“(Thomson) also allegedly submitted a fraudulent application for JobSaver payments of $3000 a fortnight, which was not approved or paid,” police said in a statement.
“Further, the man allegedly fraudulently signed and submitted a document for the purpose of obtaining a reduction in rent,” they said.
Sources have told The Australian police will be seeking for a custodial sentence after Thomson was spared a jail term in 2014 after he was found guilty of using Health Services Union money on prostitutes and fine dining during his time as national secretary.
In August, Thomson pleaded guilty tobreaching apprehended violence ordersprotecting his former wife.
Thomson did not respond to requests for comment.
UPDATE - thanks to Underminder for the reminder about The Little Trot, Therapeutic Albanese's support for Craig Thomson, this from our site 10 years ago!
Therapeutic Albo brings many qualities to his job as Deputy Prime Minister. His judgement must have got left behind somewhere he was too embarrassed to go back to.
In August, 2011 Anthony Albanese didn't think it was unusual for the Labor Party to pay Craig Thomson's legal fees. He didn't know how much, but that didn't matter. Craig deserved the support. Albo had full confidence in Craig Thomson and he said so publicly.
Here's howThe Australian reported Therapeutic Albo's support
Since then, Fair Work Australia has made findings of fact that Craig Thomson improperly used money and other financial resources of the HSU for his personal benefit. He's also charged with 173 offences in Victoria and is the subject of a NSW police fraud enquiry.
"I have the view in life that when someone tells you something, you believe them.
Albo, you can be a mate. And do it quietly without spectacle and without impugning the office we pay you to hold.Or you can be a public figure, Deputy Prime Minister of Australia at one of the busiest pubs at the banker's end of the city. And if you're going to be out and about as our Deputy PM, you've got to be careful of the company you keep. Grab those US President DVD's and imagine a Vice President getting on it with one of the Sopranos if you need a bit of help in seeing how it looks.
I don't think Albanese manages the distinction between the two roles at all well.
Deputy PM Anthony Albanese has beers with controversial MP Craig Thomson
Here's Patrick Lion's story from today's Daily Telegraph.
This is a screen grab from the Bavarian Bier Cafe's website where the Peter Slipper Memorial Mussels feature. (Peter's idea of a night out in Sydney is vastly different from Thommo and Albo's, just sayin').
Albo, you are the Deputy Prime Minister. Your judgement in attending True Thai Massage, premises where sexual services are offered for money was poor. You should have listened to the Elder Statesman during the week of the media legislation debates (yes that week, when Craig was trying to get your party to pay his legal bills..............weren't you the man who was negotiating with Craig to get his vote in favour of the bill?)
When you say that if someone tells you something, you believe them you sound a bit naive, or biased, or lying. None of those are good.
Consorting publicly with the bailed offender Craig Thomson who faces 173 charges, some relating to frauds over payments for sexual services is another thing that's not good for our deputy PM.
It's exacerbated when you are a senior Labor Party figure and your Party is being sued by Mr Thomson's lawyer for more money. It's Thomson's legal work, the bloke you were on it with.
You and the Party have spent more than $350,000 so far on Thomson's legal fees and costs against him. He is a liar and he is currently facing charges that allege he is a thief and a fraudster. Out of respect to His Worship Charles Rozencwajg I say alleged thief - but Albo you as Deputy PM know that Fair Work Australia found that Thomson took money owned by workers and used it on himself.
When faced with the judgement call to go somewhere private for a quick drink with a mate, or to parade publicly as Deputy Prime Minister with the bailed offender Craig Thomson - you chose to diminish the role of Deputy PM to parade with the man who enjoys not only the Labor Party's financial support, but the public support of our Deputy PM.
Hope you had one for the workers.
