Comments on: Craig Thomson isn’t going anywhere — innocent or guilty

By: geomac62

geomac62 — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 06:11:18 +0000

The Commissioner’s own Instructions indicate that:

Police are not to strip search a prisoner unless the seriousness and urgency of the circumstances require and justify a more intrusive search of the body;
Police are not to strip search a prisoner unless the prisoner knows in substance the reason why the strip search is being undertaken;
Police are not to search body cavities; and
Police should only conduct a strip search at the time of arrest after reasonable grounds establish that there is a need for the urgency of the search.

By: geomac62

geomac62 — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 04:10:48 +0000

Ed
About 16% get strip searched . Surely a shop lifter should be thoroughly searched as hiding goods is the method of theft but no strip search for Mary Jo .

By: Edward James

Edward James — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 03:24:41 +0000

If you are passed into the custody of Prisons Officers they do do strip searches. Get over it! Edward James

By: Madonna

Madonna — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 11:20:26 +0000

Still seething at the thought of his treatment!
I hope at the end of this ordeal Mr Thomson can sue for damages and recoup some of the losses incurred!
It’s a waiting game now…

By: blackdog

blackdog — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 04:29:29 +0000

geomac I’m with you - abuse of power, and there must be some other agenda here, how many offenders are strip searched and what crimes have those, that ARE strip searched, been arrested for??

By: geomac62

geomac62 — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 04:14:30 +0000

CML
Michael Williamson was not strip searched nor escorted by 5 cops to the police station . I,ll lay odds Mary Jo Fisher wasn,t strip searched either and she was a repeat offender with an alleged mental problem . Duty of care ? The let out for the cops it seems is that Williamson was granted bail while the police opposed bail for Thomson . The formality of bail was resolved after a short appearance before a magistrate . One would have to think the whole process was designed to get maximum publicity while humiliating Thomson . The alleged rap ist accused of killing Jill Meagher got better treatment and protection from exposure by the police in Victoria . The same force along with colleagues in NSW afforded Thomson none . Blind justice and compliant police .

By: geomac62

geomac62 — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 02:10:49 +0000

CML
Michael Williamson was not strip searched nor escorted by 5 cops to the police station . I,ll lay odds Mary Jo Fisher wasn,t strip searched either and she was a repeat defender with an alleged mental problem . Duty of care ? The let out for the cops it seems is that Williamson was granted bail while the police opposed bail for Thomson . The formality of bail was resolved after a short appearance before a magistrate . One would have to think the whole process was designed to get maximum publicity while humiliating Thomson . The alleged rapist accused of killing Jill Meagher got better treatment and protection from exposure by the police in Victoria . The same force along with colleagues in NSW afforded Thomson none . Blind justice and compliant police .

By: blackdog

blackdog — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 02:08:20 +0000

Thomson resigned the position back in 2007 didn’t he? And there was a FairWork investigation…now in 2013 he is arrested for fraud? If this was anyone else, in any other government or organisation - would Thomson have been arrested after this much time ie just in time to mess with the interests of political parties at election time?

If/when people like Abbott jump on a popularity bandwagon with the MSM and coalition-favoured commentors, the principle is “innocent until proven guilty” - so anyone who wants to take potshots at Thomson or the Gillard gov’t isn’t respecting a basic legal principle that keeps our democracy and civil liberties safe. Do we want people like that running our country? Influencing decisions and our freedoms? NO!

Of late there have been a few instances where dishonest politicians have kept their positions in gov’t - down here in Vic we had that whole police circus, with major players still in key positions, there’s Slipper and IF Thomson IS guilty we will see what happens there…anywhere else these people are treated like the scum they truly ARE, in politics it seems to be an asset with a get-out-of-jail-free pass…GEE…hmmmm…who do I vote for again…???

By: geomac62

geomac62 — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 04:20:10 +0000

I have a few rats for want of a better term . Vaille , Downer and McGuaran for starters and each with memory loss or incompetence in the Gippslanders case . Remember the equine flu fiasco ? That reminds me of the AWB inquiry which had no minister in the gun because the terms of reference .
While I agree the timing is suspect I disagree with who knew what as it benefitted the libs not labor . Reith never got charged and he was a minister when he rorted the government . Like McGuaran he paid back monies ” known ” to have been fraudulently taken/misused .

By: David Hand

David Hand — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 01:34:06 +0000

Fair Work takes about 3 years to investigate Thompson, then finds it “doesn’t have legal power” to hand information to police. Police finally charge Thonpson and as this item shows, his eligibility to sit as an MP will evaporate about the time writs are issued and parliament is dissolved.

This is a deftly managed process of propping up Julia’s government that has worked extremely well. One can only admire the strategising, control, cooperation between so called independent authorities and the cabinet.

It won’t save them on 14 September.

I see the rats are already fleeing the ship NSW ALP style.

By: CML

CML — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 14:35:19 +0000

@ geomac62 - I agree. Strip-searching “everyone”, regardless of their crime sounds very odd to me.
Did you hear Fatty O’Barrel’s remark on TV? He couldn’t see what all the fuss was about as Thomson didn’t seem to have any problem taking off his clothes in front of strangers when he was, alledgedly, paying for s+x??!! Thomson has been reported as replying that he wants a public apology from FO’B, or he will sue him for defamation.
These blo+dy coalition types just can’t help themselves!

By: klewso

klewso — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 13:30:18 +0000

I’m looking forward to one of O’Farrell’s set being fingered.

By: geomac62

geomac62 — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 10:08:54 +0000

CML
Notice how Ashby and his slander/harassment case has lost media space since the judge handed down his decision ? The appeal has gained about a 1$ compared to the amount before the case decided . If Thomson was a clear cut case he would have been charged long ago . The DPP has to be satisfied that the case has a chance of success . I think the timing and nature of Thomson being charged suggests political push rather than state DPP enthusiasm .
One thing strikes me as very odd . Do all non violent people charged get a body search ? I find that very hard to believe . Every person charged though not yet having their day in court gets a body search . I,ve never heard of a drunk driver being strip searched or someone charged with assault . I have heard of of it once sent to jail but thats by warders not the cops . Stinks to high heaven , more so considering Reith and his sinecure in the UK to help him retire . Malfeasance with his phone PIN turned out to be a good move job wise .

By: CML

CML — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 07:02:02 +0000

There are a few people on here who should answer the question, what if Thomson is innocent? Or have we regressed to the “he’s guilty because we said so” laws of the middle ages?
Why don’t you all calm down and await the verdict of the courts? Oh!… I forgot. This is a political matter, not a legal one. Can’t have any legal niceties interfering with the rAbbott’s rise to his “rightful place”, can we?
I am outraged by those who hold such views.

By: klewso

klewso — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 05:56:51 +0000

If Thomson is guilty - fine - to the slammer please - with every other elected official that used their position and misused the funds of those they were elected to represent and chose to use that position for their own gain (including politicians).
Maybe “Obeid Inc” can rustle up a spare bed, “next door”?
Personally, I’m happy with that sort of perfect world - and those sort of examples set. It will help the building industry too.
With any luck there’ll be some sort of detention for those that chose such soiled goods as candidates to represent, on the basis of a lack of investigation on what they were putting up.
The end.

By: legal-affairs

legal-affairs — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 04:56:51 +0000

Hey Andrew, The Toyota Materials case is no longer pending before the Federal Court - there was a decision just before Christmas and it was bad for Thomson:

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/FCAFC/2012/193.html

There was some talk that an application to the High Court for special leave to appeal might be filed but I don’t think there’s been any public announcement one way or the other in that regard.

By: shepherdmarilyn

shepherdmarilyn — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 04:31:11 +0000

Meanwhile three pregnant Tamils are sick on Manus Island, children are being made ill, they have no water except dirty bottled water from Australia and human rights abuses and torture abound for no reason at all.

The kids are forced to take medicine for diseases we alone exposed them to.

By: Venise Alstergren

Venise Alstergren — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 04:19:41 +0000

WOMBAT: Well said.

It puzzles me why the right-wing trolls-indeed a huge percentage of right-wing voters-live on hatred. It isn’t enough to dislike and/or disagree with the Gillard Government, they have to loathe and detest Julia Gillard. I’ll be fascinated to see their reactions when/if Tony Abbott gets into power and proceeds to drag Australia back to the 1950s.

By: AR

AR — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 04:14:37 +0000

Oh nosies, the tedious trifecta, Putridiot, Whizzbrain & Orac have come out of estivation. Must have been that recent downpour.

By: stephen Matthews

stephen Matthews — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 03:53:27 +0000

I have zero sympathy for this guy because his own lawyer has admitted :
He told the ABC his client has effectively been charged with “buying an ice cream”

By: Wombat

Wombat — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 02:53:50 +0000

I think there is a much higher chance of a by-election; I’ve never seen a man put under the sort of blowtorch that Thomson has faced. The pressure, the smear, the shear hatred he faces on a daily basis, all because:
1. he was dumb enough to do what every other union hack has done with union money.
2. he was unlucky enough to get caught.
3. he can’t resign because the Government is in a minority.

I can’t help but feel enormously sorry for the man; and very fearful for his mental health.

By: Apollo

Apollo — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 00:56:43 +0000

Australia 4th as overall happiest country for this year on the prosperity index.

By: Apollo

Apollo — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 00:55:01 +0000

Funny that Patriot mentioned education. The weirdest thing I read today, this year Australia rank 2nd in education in the world behind guess who? Bloody New Zealand at no. 1.

That’s in the Legatum Prosperity index for this year measuring economic activity, wealth ,social thingys etc.

Australia is ranked 4th, Norway at 1st place with social capital and economy, Denmark 2nd and Sweden moved to 3rd place they are high in entrepreneurial opportunity and social capital. Australia is ranked 3rd in personal freedom. New Zealand is ranked 2nd in governance and personal freedom but come at 5th overall as the happiest country.

Kiwi is ranked 1st in education and beats Aussie? WTF?

By: Suzanne Blake

Suzanne Blake — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 00:33:40 +0000

@ GeeWizz

With the ICAC Labor Corruption hearing and now two Craig Thomson Court appearance this month, the problem is that Gillard has no chance of oxygen and her poll numbers will collapse.

This means leadership chaallenge is back as a possibility

By: Patriot

Patriot — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 00:13:45 +0000

The conspiracy grows ever larger. Corrupt journalists in on it now, says Hamis.

I’ve paid more for public education under Gillard and Rudd than at any time in the past. As I understand it we had an education revolution and some sort of outdoor covered concrete area was built for some kids somewhere with my money. Vive la revolution!