SM,

"No wonder the FWA investigation was such a stuff up."

Changed your tune.

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=5151&page=0#138907

Poirot,

I haven't changed my tune a jot. The evidence against Thomson is overwhelming even if FWA was incompetent, they collected enough to damn him.

The scandal to which I was referring was the fabrication that Kathy Jackson was influencing Lawler.

SM,

I do find that more than slightly amusing.

Not only is Thomson's accuser Lawler's partner, the investigation by FWA is found to be incompetent, and Jackson herself is at the centre of allegations.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-26/jacksons-at-centre-of-hsu-allegations/4093190

Jackson is guilty as sin, The FWA assessment of Thompson was indisputable according to the noalition. Now thrown out they are back to scratch. How many times can you hang someone, prior to a court case.
Slipper is a witch hunt, not clean cut as stated by the noalition at all. Their attempt to get Gillard was just plain pathetic.
No wonder Labor are moving in the polls.

Poirot,

If the FWA was competent, the report would have been done in a fraction of the time, would have reviewed all the evidence, and would have produced the information in the standard format that the prosecutors could use. That none of this was achieved means that FWA is not fit to do these investigations and that this should be given to some one that is, such as AAAC.

Is the information in the report complete or immediately useful? NO.

Is what is there incorrect? NO

If FWA had been competent, Thomson would be in jail.

As for the "scandal" which supposes Lawler used his influence to prejudice the inquiry to which he played no part, is grasping at straws.

Lawler is in it up to his neck.

Lawler and his family are consider “Liberal Royalty” and he is hardly an independent observer. Jackson is receiving free legal services from both James Ashby’s lawyer, and also Stuart Wood (from the HR Nicholls Society) in Melbourne.

During an internal HSU power struggle he made a corruption complaint (as “a private citizen”) - and threats - about another HSU member based on unauthorised access to her emails and Jackson has submitted at least one document that was written on a FWA computer. Likewise Jackson has been logging into FWA’s computer network during their investigation into the HSU.

What sort of work were Lawler’s two children paid to do by the HSU and why did he suddenly go on “long leave” as soon as questions were asked about his role in the affair?

Since Lawler’s apparent conflict of interest in this supposedly independent investigation, FWA President Iain Ross is proposing a drastic overhaul of the FWA Code of Practice.

The allegations against Thomson are based primarily on information provided by Jackson herself. The evidence was personally presented to FWA by Jackson and she is the only person who can supply any evidence that could clear Thomson. Unfortunately for her, others are leaking documents that expose her own criminality.

There is a long list of corruption allegations pending against Jackson - far in excess of whatever Thomson was alleged to have done. Jackson had also accused her former husband (also allegedly corrupt) of using HSU credit cards for prostitutes- remarkably similar to those raised against Thomson. It’s beginning to look like Jackson made allegations against Thomson to protect herself from being found out and as part of a power struggle within the HSU.

Abbott and Co have gone remarkably silent about their ”Joan Of Arc - heroic, and worthy of great admiration”. Ashby may also turn out to be a liability.

This story is far from over and the names Pyne and Abetz are being mentioned as being very close to the matter.