3.35pm: Craig Thomson seeks the call and indicates he is planning to make a "comprehensive" statement to Parliament on the Fair Work Australia report during the next sitting week. Here's how Annabel Crabb sees it:
@CrabbTwitsard: So the Independents have been talked out of insurrection - they're staying put to vote with Govt. They have been talked down with the promise of a full statement from Thomson next sitting week.
3.32pm: As Anthony Albanese speaks against the motion to suspend standing orders, Annabel Crabb has been watching movements in the House closely and reports:
@CrabbTwitsard: This is looking as though it might be interesting. Independents are not keen on siding with Thomson.
3.09pm: Question Time moves on from the budget and back to the matters which dominated yesterday's session, as the manager of Opposition business, Chrisopher Pyne, moves a motion to compel the Member for Dobell, Craig Thomson, to make a statement to the House about matters arising from Fair Work Australia's investigation into the Health Services Union. Leave is not granted, and Mr Pyne moves on to request standing orders be suspended.
Yes, did you watch Little Britain where the politician would come out with his wife and kids and start admitting to the most horrendous behaviour! Very funny because its true.
Maybe he has reached the stage of self deception which allows him to believe his own lies.How is he even going to be able to front the house that day with a straight face ?
Maybe he has reached the stage of self deception which allows him to believe his own lies.
I can't help feeling very sorry for his wife. The humiliation must be dreadful.
At this point, it's hard to see repeated denials cutting the mustard, but our parliament has become a strange place.Can't really see him doing anything BUT issuing denials. Don't expect there will be any 'explanation' and he's already trotted out the 'Let's not ask me anything that a Court might use against me later'.
Will Gillard Labor be pinned to their seats listening, or will the chamber only be half full? All the Coalition will be there, surely Labor need to be there to make noise to drown out the guffaws!
"You got that pretty blonde to do WHAT? She doesn't know anything about world peace!"
With 19 questions done, Gillard sat poised to bring an end to question time, but Pyne beat her to the punch.
He moved a motion to suspend standing orders (that's 52 times this year), to try and get Thomson to explain himself to the House.
Gillard left the chamber as is her usual practice, but it soon became clear this was no usual motion.
Independents Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott had words with Thomson, who was sitting nearby. Then Thomson made the long march over to government whip Joel Fitzgibbon and had a further chat, before leaving the chamber for several minutes.
The ensuring flurry inside the House - Stephen Smith conferencing with the independents, Oakeshott talking to the clerks - made it clear that something was up.
When Pyne had finished lambasting the Thomson affair as ''one of the most tawdry episodes to ever besmirch the parliament'' and Anthony Albanese's five minutes of reply (the member for Dobell is innocent until proven guilty) were over, the House breathed in.
In the gap, Thomson was on his feet, on indulgence.
The embattled independent MP - who once was Labor - said that he would say something. But not right now because it was budget week. He promised to give a statement when parliament next sits (the week after next) and with that, resumed his seat.
It did indeed. Thanks, joe.This should open!
joea
It did indeed. Thanks, joe.
Were they the declrations that were made "slightly late" ?This will be interesting!
http://afr.com/p/national/legal_fees_thomson_issue_in_the_vluy7AdkY9AZbrzigqos8M
joea
Thanks, joe. There's probably way more that's going on that doesn't hit the media also.
Can someone remind me what the issue was with Mal Colstoun? I didn't take much notice at the time, but have heard it raised recently as apparently an example of how a Liberal member was allowed to remain in the parliament when accused of some wrongdoing.
Or do I have it completely wrong?
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