Abbott calls for Thomson's resignation

24 May 2012, 6:16 pm   -   Source: AAP

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has stepped up his attack on Craig Thomson, calling for him to resign, ahead of a possibly damaging television story.

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Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has taken his attack on Craig Thomson to a new level, using parliament to call for the MP's resignation just hours after the former union leader appealed to be left alone.

Mr Thomson had urged the coalition to let nine separate inquiries and pending court action involving the Health Services Union (HSU), and related allegations he misused union funds while its national secretary, take their course.

"Is this about trying to push someone to the brink?" he said to reporters in Canberra.

Mr Thomson acknowledged the allegations need to be pursued.

"But I think nine investigations probably does it," he said.

The member for the NSW seat of Dobell has been under pressure since he rose in federal parliament on Monday to defend himself against the findings of a Fair Work Australia (FWA) investigation report on the HSU.

In parliament, Mr Abbott again pursued Prime Minister Julia Gillard for failing to explain whether she believed Mr Thomson - who is suspended from the Labor party but still votes with the minority Labor government - or the FWA findings.

"At a human level I have a great deal of sympathy for the member for Dobell," Mr Abbott said.

"We have no sympathy, though, for a government and for a prime minister who have put him in this position by insisting that he remain in the parliament when the honourable course of action for him would be to resign."

Mr Abbott has called for Mr Thomson's resignation before, but not in parliament.

Leader of the House Anthony Albanese said Mr Abbott's call was a clear breach of parliamentary rules, but Deputy Speaker Anna Burke let Mr Abbott continue.

Earlier this week, WA Liberal backbencher Mal Washer, who is a qualified doctor, said Mr Thomson was under immense emotional pressure and warned his colleagues to tread carefully.

The coalition this week challenged the content of Mr Thomson's 58-minute statement and successfully referred the matter to the powerful house privileges committee, which will examine if he mislead parliament.

Mr Thomson, who was HSU national secretary from 2002 until his election in 2007, is also facing inquiries from police, the electoral commission and the tax office.

Mr Thomson on Thursday also criticised the Nine Network's A Current Affair program, which has denied paying a former prostitute $60,000 to tell her story.

"Frankly this is journalism at its worst," he said.

ACA executive producer Grant Williams said he had a statutory declaration from the ex-prostitute who was working in Sydney in the mid-2000s.

The FWA report, tabled in parliament, said Mr Thomson misused around $6000 on escort services. He denies this and other allegations.

During question time, Ms Gillard faced a barrage of opposition questions on the theme of "trust" and was asked why she continued to rely on Mr Thomson's vote to keep the government in power.

Ms Gillard described the opposition's attack as "low and pathetic".

"It doesn't want to deal with the real issues facing the Australian people," she said.

Mr Albanese said the opposition was engaging in "self-indulgent blood lust for power".

Meanwhile, FWA general manager Bernadette O'Neill said she stood by the investigation report.

Work was continuing on pending civil action in the Federal Court over 156 alleged contraventions by Mr Thomson of workplace and rules.

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