Former federal MP Craig Thomson is expected to fight a judge's decision to give the go-ahead to the workplace relations tribunal's lawsuit against him.
Federal Court Judge Christopher Jessup on Tuesday made an order extending the time frame for Thomson to seek leave to appeal against the decision, saying there was a possibility Thomson would make an application.
The Fair Work Commission is suing Thomson for alleged misuse of Health Services Union funds while he was the national secretary from 2002 to 2007.
It says he spent about $350,000 of HSU funds campaigning in the federal NSW seat of Dobell ahead of his election to federal parliament in 2007, and thousands more on sex workers.
Thomson unsuccessfully argued on Monday to have the matter thrown out on the grounds he was mentally unwell.
Thomson left the court after Judge Jessup ruled against him, and the matter continued in his absence.
On Tuesday, barrister Stephen Donaghue, for the FWC, said Thomson moved to the NSW Central Coast in 2005 with the view to campaigning there.
"He did so, deploying HSU funds to achieve that," Dr Donaghue said.
Thomson hired two people "for the substantial purpose of campaigning for Mr Thomson" and he used union funds to build a profile in the area by contributing to local charities and sports clubs.
"None of this charity expenditure that occurred was authorised," Dr Donaghue said.
There was nobody representing Thomson in the court on Tuesday.
Thomson was last year convicted of 13 counts of theft following cash withdrawals he made from an HSU bank account when he was the union's national secretary.
He was acquitted of 49 charges of obtaining financial advantage by deception on the grounds the prosecution had made an error in the way it made its case.
The hearing continues in the federal court.
