Prime Minister JULIA GILLARD says her chief-of-staff was merely checking facts when he phoned an industrial watchdog over the Craig Thomson affair.
Ms Gillard's told the ABC that for decades, ministerial chiefs-of-staff have rung public servants to check facts.
And she says the first she knew of the allegations against Mr Thomson was when they were reported in newspapers in 2009.
Mr Thomson's under fire over the alleged misuse of credit cards during his time as head of the Health Services Union.
A report in News Limited newspapers today says that in 2009, Ms Gillard's chief-of-staff rang the Industrial Registrar to ask whether he was investigating Mr Thomson.
Abbott wants PM to explain
The Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott has demanded Prime Minister, Julia Gillard detail what she knew about the Craig Thomson affair and when she knew it.
Speaking on the Nine Network today, Mr Abbot says if the PM has a reasonable explanation the public will give her credit for that, but she needs to give us an explanation
Meanwhile, Liberal frontbencher, Christopher Pyne has rejected suggestions the coalition interfered in the police investigation into the Labor MP, saying they're defamatory.
Opposition justice spokesman, George Brandis, phoned the New South Wales police minister four days before the police began an investigation into misuse of Mr Thomson's union credit card.
The government suspects political interference in the case, with Labor minister, Tanya Plibersek, labelling the phone call completely improper.
But Mr Pyne told the ABC last night the allegations are a smokescreen, given the police inquiry had yet to start when the call was made.
Earlier, Prime Minister Julia Gillard warned against political interference in Mr Thomson's case, as the opposition continues to demand she clear the air over the affair.
At the end of a two-week sitting of parliament dominated by the issue, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott attacked the prime minister for not asking Mr Thomson to make a statement to parliament about the alleged misuse of union-issued credit cards issued to him when he headed the Health Services Union between 2002 and 2007.
"It's the government's job to resolve this matter so we can all move on," Mr Abbott said, seizing on a call by the union itself for Mr Thomson to make a statement.
Ms Gillard said addressing parliament was a matter for Mr Thomson.
Shovel placed on HSU secretary's doorstep
The national secretary of the union once led by embattled Federal Labor MP Craig Thomsom says she isn't intimidated by a shovel placed symbolically on the doorstep of her Melbourne home.
Health Services Union national secretary Kathy Jackson this week referred financial issues relating to union accounts to NSW police.
Mr Thomson, who was HSU secretary at the time, is accused of using union funds to pay for escort services and of other irregular use of his union credit card.
The shovel was left early this morning and is now the subject of a police investigation.
Ms Jackson won't comment on who she thought was responsible for the shovel incident but said whoever it was had picked the wrong girl.
The shovel incident also follows reports that senior Victorian Labor figures are pushing for action against the HSU as retribution for the referral to police.
