It would appear that once again Thomson has forgotten to declare pecuniary interest until it came to light in the newspapers. Long after the scandal broke, Labor was paying about $200 000 for his legal fees to defend himself. That the ALP machine forgot to declare this beggars belief, and looks far more like an attempt to cover up continued support.

While Thomson has finally agreed to give a statement to the parliament explaining his actions, I think it is time that the Prime minister declared exactly what part she played in this. Considering that most of this $200 000 comes from the "donations" from other unions funded from workers dues, this is looking more and more like Labor/union MPs protecting other Labor/union mates.

As much as Gillard and Shorten are trying to quarantine this scandal to the HSU, it is beginning to look as though the rot spreads right to the top of the ALP.

In other words, SM, business as usual, so why the fuss?

It was short-sighted to expose Thomson and paying $200,000 to cover up the affair is a good investment in the public interest.

Why?

Because every minute spent by a Labor MP in a brothel, is a minute he cannot harm us!

Maybe the bloke was revisiting his birth place?
I have no doubt he is guilty, but he has not been found that yet.
It always has been Labor policy get its legislation past the house.
And the payment is not illegal.
It was not SM cash but the ALP,s.
We should wait, the rush to install Abbott, even at the expense of our current law and practices is unseemly and damaging.
Lets not forget all politicians, all sides, are being tainted by Conservatives impersonation of the worst in American Republicanism.

I said 4 years ago that personal belief determines public policy. I was cut to threads but no Government has ever proved this statement to be so true. With moral absolutes out the window you end up with Greece and the ALP/Greens.

Belly,

There is a saying that Justice delayed is Justice denied. With the overwhelming evidence against him beyond reasonable doubt, the question is when, not if.

The problem for Juliar is that it appears to the public that Labor and its cronies in the FWA have been protecting him by delaying the investigation, and paying for his lawyers even when it was clear that he stank of corruption. That Labor yet again forgot to inform anyone of these payments against parliamentary procedure, until it got out in the press shows that they knew what they were doing was wildly unethical.

Now by her own actions Juliar has closely associated herself with Thomson and is drenched in the stench.

<<Now by her own actions Juliar has closely associated herself with Thomson and is drenched in the stench>>

It is all relative - in her case, helping a friend in need smells like rose-water.