[GandalfTheGrey]

Police arrest MP Craig Thomson
By chief political correspondent Simon Cullen

Updated 9 minutes ago


Federal independent MP Craig Thomson has been arrested on the New South Wales Central Coast.

His lawyer, Chris McArdle, says he was contacted by Mr Thomson shortly after 1:00pm (AEDT) today.

"The police are there arresting him and charging him [with] all charges, such as obtained $300 for himself or something," Mr McArdle told ABC News Online.

"He has to go to the police station where he has to sign a form and then go home again."

Mr McArdle says Mr Thomson is due to appear in court next week and his client will plead not guilty.

"He isn't guilty, so it's a pretty good clue that he's going to plead not guilty."

Mr Thomson is already facing civil charges in the Federal Court relating to allegations dating back to his time as head of the Health Services Union.

He has been accused of spending members' money on prostitutes and lavish hospitality.

He denies the allegations.

Asked whether today's charges related to his client's alleged use of escorts, Mr McArdle replied: "Some people should get off and develop their own sex life."

"That allegation in the Fair Work matter is $7,000 - false as it is - out of a case that's $300,000.

"There's something very sad about the fourth estate in Australia that they are absolutely beside themselves with fascination about that particular false charge."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-31/c ... ed/4493722

Hmmm, perhaps Gillard's election call is starting to make more sense...

[unbalanced zealot]

Trying to avoid a one line post, but a one word "golly" may have been all I need to write here.

I don't know the implications of this, but the September election date means that at least there is some point on the horizon when all of this mess that has been playing out on multiple fronts since 2010 can maybe be sorted one way or another. Even without Abbott and the endless saga around the non-ALP/Coalition members, there is Rudd in the background and Thomson lingering too. Australia's federal politics has been as messy and distracted as what takes place in places like Italy, Israel and Japan. The Thomson issue, like the Slipper issue has played out in this context with the actual legal and moral dimensions being distorted by politics.

Bring on September.