This article was written in March 2012, before Craig Thomson addressed parliament to respond to allegations against him.

Being remembered by the public as ‘the bloke who used the work credit card on prostitutes’ was never the goal for Craig Thomson when he entered into the world of politics.

The former Labor MP, who holds the federal seat of Dobell on the New South Wales central coast, began his journey into the political world by joining the Health Services Union (HSU) in 1988.

Thomson, who lobbied for the rights of ambulance workers, health professionals and aged care workers propelled his way up the ranks to claim the position of Assistant Secretary and later in 2002, became the union’s National Secretary.

Thomson stepped down from his role at the HSU to begin a career in federal politics and won the seat of Dobell from Liberal Ken Ticehurst in the 2007 federal election.

The Liberal MP, who had held the position since 2001, was another victim of the poor Howard election campaign, with a swing of 8.7 per cent in the seat. Although Thomson had moved in to the Labor party, his financial record at the HSU still remained, lying dormant, awaiting an inevitable discovery.

Questions were asked when the HSU asked for an investigation into the irregular and suspicious spending habits on Thomson’s card while he was the National Secretary. The report alleged that records showed he was billed for adult services, $100,000 in cash and a range of other personally consumed items. These allegations made their way into the public sphere when The Australian published these details in April 2009.

Since then, Thomson’s political career has never been the same.

With the controversy still unresolved, Thomson won the Labor pre-selection for his seat for the 2010 election. Subsequently, Thomson was re-elected which was critically important for the minority Gillard government.

Chris Brown, Acting National President of the HSU, feels questions should have been raised by the government about Thomson’s controversial behaviour prior to his pre-selection.

‘There were suggestions that the allegations that surrounded Mr Thomson were known by key people in the ALP at the time,’ he says. ‘It could be asked whether Mr Thomson should have gained pre-selection for the seat of Dobell.’

Thomson’s vehement denial of the HSU’s and The Australian’s accusations were quelled by the withdrawal of a defamation lawsuit. His legal bill, reportedly costing the Labor Party $40,000, is seen by many as an investment to not only save the controversial politician’s financial status, but to prop up the Gillard government’s hold of power, as bankruptcy for Thomson meant that he would lose his seat. Losing the seat would mean disaster for the ALP. This was compounded by the opposition’s persistent calls for his head and consequential by-election.

This situation would be any politician’s worst nightmare and the acting president of the HSU feels that this situation has harmed Thomson’s electorate and members of the HSU more than anything.

‘To have people in Parliament who understand workers issues and are able to advocate on behalf of working people and their families is a positive thing. However given the controversy that has surrounded Mr Thomson this potential has not been realised,’ he says.

‘What I did expect was that Mr Thomson would understand and advance the interests of workers in policy debate and development in areas such as national health reform, industrial relations reform, like the abolition of Workchoices, and other policies which are important to our members.’

Brown does agree that the accounting culture of the union has had a poor record with former Labor vice-president and HSU National President, Michal Williamson who was accused of similar transactions, but believes that things have changed since Thomson’s departure.

‘There is no doubt that during the period that Mr Thomson was National Secretary there were very poor financial controls and procedures in place,’ says Brown.

‘Controversy and accusations of financial mis-management and possible corruption are confined to the HSU East Branch and the National Office at the time that Mr Thomson was National Secretary,’ he adds.

‘Since Mr Thomson’s departure from the role the union has progressively put in place strict and transparent policies and procedures which are best practice.

‘Not only are those policies and procedures in place but the National Executive, and the Finance Committee of the National Executive, ensures that they are complied with.’

‘While there are some challenges, I strongly believe that the HSU will recover from this unfortunate period and be the strong union that members rightfully demand.’

With the controversy still unresolved, Craig Thomson’s political career still lies in limbo – it’s almost certain to come to an abrupt end at the next federal election, if not sooner.

Alex Pavlidis is a second-year journalism student at La Trobe University.

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