Craig Thomson has been thrown in the slammer — a 12-month sentence (suspended for nine months) for misusing $24,538 in union funds. Fair enough, too. But all we ever wanted was an apology.
Sorry to the members of the Health Services Union whose hard-earned funds he whittled away on prostitutes and personal gifts.
Sorry to the union movement broadly for trashing the reputation of trade unions and the good work of good members.
Sorry to the constituents of Dobell, who were so poorly served by a deceptive, distracted local member.
Sorry to Julia Gillard, whose prime ministership was largely spent first defending you, then dealing with the fallout.
Sorry to the Labor government, which could never outrun the scandal as you almost convincingly maintained your innocence.
Sorry to all of us, forced to wallow in the mud of your scandal, crippling good government and public debate, as you lied day after day.
Sorry might be the hardest word, Craig, but it’s all we ever wanted. You’ve got plenty of time to think about it now. We’ll wait.
I can’t fathom how anyone that could do that could still think they could enter parliament as a representative of other people?
Even if he did spend those funds on legal self-indulgences before he became a representative : then there were those self-indulgent misuses of allowances while in parliament by others? Is there much difference in that attitude?
I guess Thompson’s been in denial for so long now, he actually believes he’s innocent.
I’m beginning to hope that his appeal might end up with him doing *more* porridge.
I also hope that the other rorters from the HSU get their just deserts.
Madame Kathy “Defarge” in particular.
Aren’t we entitled to an explanation from his as to why he thought he was entitled to spend other peoples money on prostitutes?
3 months is way too short. I hope they make him clean the toilets!
The sense of, not entitlement but DEMAND, which permeates the ruling class, its apparatchiks & gofers,has burgeoned (or metastasised as BK wrote recently of bureaucratic babbledegook) in the last generation.
Is it just coincidence that they seem to be those who benefitted from free uni education post Whitlam and realised that the trough was wide open and their snouts were better suited to fit that the yoiks whose toil filled it with swill?
Prostitutes, cars, gambling, overseas holidays, book launches, wedding or charity bike-ride expenses, does it matter – they’re all legal.