Thomson the grub
THE act of paying for prostitutes, adult films or other items on a Health Services Union credit card did not mean that Craig Thomson had defrauded either the card issuer or his employer, Mr Thomson’s defence counsel argued yesterday as the sexually charged and lurid case against the former Labor MP drew to a close.
How can he say that? How can anyone justify spending members funds on personal sexual gratification?
Maybe the Health Services Union don’t have written clause that says “HSU Credit Cards are not to be used for any purpose other than those that are of benefit to the Union” or, more specifically, to cover grubs like Thomson “…are not to be used for prostitutes”.
If they dont, they should. If the HSU Board hasn’t discussed and approved inserting clauses in their management protocols as a result of Thomson’s nefarious activities then one must ask why not?
It could be construed that they are simply maintaining the gravy chain for future office holders
If Thomson gets off this then it is another reason to have a Royal Commission into Union thuggery, rorting of members monies and standover tactics in the building industry.
I don’t have a problem with unions per se, just union officials rorting members funds (HSU), and/or committing every crime against civilization (CFMEU)
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If you need to insert language like – “HSU Credit Cards are not to be used for any purpose other than those that are of benefit to the Union” or, “are not to be used for prostitutes” in spending guidelines, you have lost the battle, as now you have changed it into a legal fight over wording – you’d have a grub claiming that they only spent money on one prostitute rather than ‘prostitutes’ and/or that the union benefited because it relaxed the rep etc, etc.
What they need to try is a radical solution, putting honest people in these positions.
If that doesn’t work, put the credit card statements online and let the media/public audit it.
You’re dead right Harry and I was going to write about that very fact. From my Army days and into civie street on committees and boards it never occurred to me to rip off the government or company I was representing – not because I’mm some goody-goody-two-shoes as I’m not, but because when given positions of trust and representing people who are less well off, like diggers or Legacy kids, then they need to be protected, not ripped off.
Because the unions have a history of this sort of shit, rules still need to be tightened because even honest men need to be audited so they can say, hand on heart, I’m doing my job properly and present prrof too their members.
Honest men, honest audit and honest report to membership.
That’s how it goes…or should!
How can anyone justify spending members funds on personal sexual gratification?
Numbers where are you? Thomo needs your skill in defending the indefensible.
Why would I defend Thomson? He’s a crook. Whether he is a convicted crook remains to be seen.
Don Lane, Leisha Harvey and Brian Austin (for example) were convicted. It’s not confined to Unions.
But I wonder how many of the following fine and upstanding businessmen and women will end up in the dock or splashed all over the media – http://www.couriermail.com.au/business/sacked-queensland-staff-dudded-out-of-entitlements-by-ignorant-employers/story-fnihsps3-1226726504457
Probably none – because there’s no political leverage available.
The piece of shit “won’t defend Thomson”, but he is first in line to throw in a distraction for him.
I also love the way you equate ignorance of obligations regarding entitlements with a series of deliberate thefts from the union members.
Who didn’t see this coming?
it is erroneous to suggest that convictions create the “crook”. The most successful crook is one without convictions, and in my experience many of them are prominent members of society.
Destraction – look over there …a unicorn
Yes numbers he is a crook but he is labors crook. The Labor philosophy was that it was better to have him inside the tent pissing out rather than outside the tent pissing in. Now he is outside the tent pissing in the wind.
Hello 17…
The pieces you linked to are not too supportive of your argument. Here are two extracts:
In most cases, the oversight is due to the complexity of the Fair Work Act, which is reflected by the hundreds of calls our Employer Assistance Line receives every month from confused businesses.
Ombudsman Natalie James said it could be costly for businesses that failed to find out what their staffs were owed.
“There’s a variety of different reasons why employers don’t pay their employees correctly, but in the overwhelming majority of cases it’s because business operators aren’t fully aware of their obligations or have made a mistake,’’ she said.
I have two close relatives who own and operate businesses, and both have agencies etc from the three levels of government constantly harassing and/or pestering them.
You should try starting and running a business sometime. If you can get everything right you will surely be in the running for Australian of the Century.
You should try starting and running a business sometime. If you can get everything right you will surely be in the running for Australian of the Century.
I’ve been running a business since 2010.
It’s doing very nicely thank you…..
I did not ask if you were doing nicely.
Any chance you could advise how many people you employ full time, their sexes and how many awards they are covered by?
Here is a 37 page example of what The Workplace Gender Equality Agency) requires from one of the employers I mentioned:
http://www.wgea.gov.au/sites/default/files/workplace_profile_and_reporting_questionnaire_0.pdf
Multiply that pestering many times over and you might then comprehend how easy it is to make a mistake.
Your original sneering comment about “fine and upstanding businessmen” is unwarranted.
Any chance you could advise how many people you employ full time, their sexes and how many awards they are covered by?
After my family receiving deaths threats and “I know where you live” phone calls, I’ll be buggered if I disclose any more private information on line.
Suffice it to say that anyone with a reading age of about ten should be able to manage Fair Work’s requirements. Bottom line is, if you treat your employees fairly, there’s never an issue.
I hasten to point out that the death threats emanated from Michael Smith’s News readers, not from this site, or others I frequent. Some seriously deranged people follow him.
Call me cynical numbers, but given your rather casual relationship with the truth, I believe that you are lying and don’t run a business, you just needed an out and inventing threats is a quick way out.