Abbott claims 'go-slow' in Thomson case

31 Jan 2012, 7:41 pm   -   Source: AAP
Share This

Tony Abbott has accused Fair Work Australia of an "institutional go-slow" in their investigation of Labor MP Craig Thomson.

Federal Opposition leader Tony Abbott has accused Fair Work Australia (FWA) of an "institutional go-slow" while investigating allegations against Labor backbencher Craig Thomson.

Mr Thomson is under investigation by police and Fair Work Australia over allegations surrounding the misuse of a union credit card during his time as an official with the Health Services Union.

Mr Abbott says the FWA investigation has now been running for three long years.

"The Fitzgerald Royal Commission in Queensland went for well under three years, The Wood Royal Commission in NSW again well under the three years, the Cole Royal Commission into the building industry just 18 months," he told the National Press Club in Canberra on Tuesday.

"I fail to see why this investigation is taking so long. I fail to see why there has apparently been such lack of cooperation between Fair Work Australia and the NSW and the Victorian police.

"I just make the point that as things stand, this looks like an institutional go-slow to help the government."

"That's not a very happy judgment to pass on important institutions."

The authority said last week its investigation was nearing conclusion and a final response would be made on March 5.

If its findings are adverse, Mr Thomson could be forced to abandon his NSW seat of Dobell.

A by-election could leave the seat in the hands of the coalition, erasing the minority Labor government's one-vote lead in the lower house.

Labor had enjoyed the support of Tasmanian independent Andrew Wilkie, but that support has been withdrawn after the government withdrew from an agreement to press tough poker-machine legislation through the parliament this year.

Mr Abbott said he hadn't spoken to Mr Wilkie about supporting a coalition motion of no confidence in the government when parliament resumes next week.

"I would never lightly move a motion of no confidence in the government," he said at the National Press Club.

"My fundamental objective is not to win votes in the parliament. It's to deliver a better government to our country."

Mr Abbott said as the numbers now stood, Prime Minister Julia Gillard was protected against an opposition no-confidence motion by Mr Thomson's presence in parliament.

  • Follow us: 
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Youtube