Craig Thomson (politician)
Craig Robert Thomson (born 31 July 1964 in Wellington, New Zealand) is an Australian former trade union official and a former politician implicated in the Health Services Union expenses affair.
Craig Thomson | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Dobell | |
| In office 24 November 2007 – 7 September 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Ken Ticehurst |
| Succeeded by | Karen McNamara |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Craig Robert Thomson 31 July 1964 Wellington, New Zealand |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Independent (2012–2013) |
| Other political affiliations | Labor (2007–2012) |
| Spouse(s) | Lynette Sharma>Christa Zoe Arnold (m. 2011) |
| Alma mater | University of New South Wales |
| Occupation | Unionist and politician |
Thomson was the national secretary of the Health Services Union from 2002 until the 2007 federal election when he was elected to the House of Representatives as member for the Division of Dobell, New South Wales, for the Australian Labor Party. In April 2012 he announced his intention to sit on the crossbench as an independent member of parliament. Thomson lost his seat at the 2013 federal election.
Thomson was convicted and sentenced in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on 25 March 2014 of 65 charges of fraud and theft for using Health Services Union funds for personal benefit; and sentenced to twelve months imprisonment, with nine months suspended over two years. Thomson was initially released on bail. and the conviction and sentence subsequently overturned on appeal. On 15 December 2014 Thomson was found guilty in the County Court of Victoria of thirteen charges of theft, and was later fined A$25,000. Other charges of obtaining financial advantage by deception were dismissed on appeal.
On 17 October 2018, Thomson was struck off as a lawyer.
On 17 November 2021, Thomson was arrested and charged over allegations he facilitated more than 130 fraudulent visa applications over four years, resulting in more than $2 million of financial gains.
On 22 March 2022, Thomson was arrested at Wamberal for allegedly breaching an AVO, hours after he had already pleaded guilty to several domestic violence-related charges involving his ex wife at the Gosford Local Court. Mr Thomson is alleged to have sent two threatening emails to his estranged wife.
On 23 March 2022, Thomson again appeared before the Court to face 4 new fraud charges in relation to his alleged use of falsified documents to apply for COVID-19 support payments.