FED:Coalition antics on MP waste time: Greens

AAP General News (Australia)
08-24-2011
FED:Coalition antics on MP waste time: Greens

CANBERRA, Aug 24 AAP - Australian Greens leader Bob Brown says the opposition is wasting
vital legislation debating time pursuing Labor MP Craig Thomson.

Greens MP Adam Bandt on Wednesday voted with the government to stop the opposition
from forcing Mr Thomson, the member for Dobell, to make a parliamentary statement.

NSW police are examining whether to investigate Mr Thomson over his alleged misuse
of a Health Services Union credit card to pay for prostitutes in 2005 and 2007.

Fair Work Australia also is investigating the union's finances under Mr Thomson's leadership.

Mr Thomson has denied any wrongdoing and Prime Minister Julia Gillard is standing by him.

Senator Brown said it was wrong for the coalition to put such matters ahead of legislation.

"Policy matters and legislation outcomes in this parliament should not be put aside
for what is going to be a long process of the analysis of allegations against Mr Thomson,"

he told reporters in Canberra.

Mr Thomson had made the right decision in standing aside as chairman of the lower house
economics committee on Tuesday night, Senator Brown said.

AAP pjo/rl/jhp

KEYWORD: THOMSON BROWN

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