Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Hansard source

Criticism of Mr Thomson's conduct was near-universal with one notable exception. It was the Labor Party, which repeatedly refused to condemn Mr Thomson's conduct. Indeed, Mr Shorten as workplace relations minister said, 'Yes, I believe him.' When a motion was put to the Senate to condemn Mr Thomson's misuse of union members' funds, Labor senators voted against the motion despite the findings of the Fair Work Commission. The so-called party of workers sold out the low-paid, hardworking members of the HSU simply to cling to power at any cost—and I really do mean any cost. Senator Dastyari, when he was New South Wales Secretary of the ALP, spent $350,000 of party funds on Craig Thomson's legal bills. It is time for Labor to get over this issue and support our legislation (Time expired)