ALP rocked by new cash for sex claims

More allegations ... suspended Labor MP Craig Thompson leaving his home / Pic: Gary Graham Source: The Daily Telegraph

SUSPENDED Labor MP Craig Thomson faces bankruptcy and possible expulsion from parliament amid new claims he spent another $2000 on prostitutes.

In a further setback for the government, Fair Work Australia yesterday filed civil charges in the Federal Court alleging Mr Thomson misused hundreds of thousands of dollars in union funds.

Senior legal sources said the federal MP could be liable for fines of about $200,000 - and face a massive legal bill of a similar amount - if found guilty of breaching industrial laws on about 130 occasions.

The Labor Party, which had earlier picked up a legal bill of about $300,000 for the embattled backbencher, last night confirmed it would no longer pay his legal expenses.

But the government will continue to accept Mr Thomson's vote on key legislation and to fend off censure motions in the parliament.

Just a week after former speaker Peter Slipper was forced to resign over lewd text messages, the industrial umpire detailed a series of fresh cash transactions by Mr Thomson to pay for escort services while he was Health Services Union boss.

These involve withdrawals totalling $1700 from automatic teller machines on three separate occasions in April and June 2006.

They were allegedly used to pay for escort services from The Boardroom of Melbourne, Young Blondes/Confidential Models Escorts and Miss Behaving, according to FWA's 194-page statement of claim filed in the Federal Court yesterday. Mr Thomson has denies the claims.

The alleged payments for escort services form part of more than $100,000 in cash withdrawals by Mr Thomson when he was HSU national secretary from 2002 to 2007. These are in addition to about $6000 in payments for prostitutes paid on a union credit card in his name.

But there could be worse to come with Victorian and NSW police close to finalising separate criminal investigations into Mr Thomson's alleged misuse of union funds.

The court action comes less than a week after Mr Slipper was forced to resign from his office, weakening the government's grip on power.

Mr Thomson has sat on the cross-benches since late April but has consistently voted with the government and is regularly seen around parliament with his ALP colleagues.

FWA general manager Bernadette O'Neill said the claim was based largely on the findings of a three-year investigation into Mr Thomson but also included the additional allegations in relation to cash withdrawals.

"I have not taken this action lightly. I am satisfied that it is in the public interest to pursue the allegations in the documents filed in the Federal Court today and consider that there is a reasonable prospect of success," Ms O'Neill said. "If successful I will be seeking the imposition of pecuniary penalties relating to each of the 37 alleged contraventions where penalties are available.

"I will also be seeking orders requiring Mr Thomson to pay compensation for losses allegedly incurred by the HSU by reason of the alleged breaches of general duties, should they be proven."

Mr Thomson, who has held his Central Coast seat of Dobell since 2007, said he would "continue" to maintain his innocence.

"While I am disappointed, I am not surprised that Fair Work Australia has decided to go ahead with its claims," he said. "Clearly FWA has felt pressured into responding this way given the political process which it is part of.

"Naturally I will vigorously defend these claims which are based on a totally discredited Fair Work Australia report."

Last night, Labor Party sources confirmed they would not be prepared to pay any more of Mr Thomson's legal fees, saying they would adhere to a motion passed on May 18 by the party's finance committee.

That motion said the NSW branch of the Labor Party "will no longer provide financial assistance or any other legal expenses for Craig Thomson".

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has declined to comment on the charges against Craig Thomson or whether he should stay in Parliament as she arrived in India for a three-day visit.

"I'm not going to comment on a matter that's before the courts and I'm also not going to war-game a lot of hypothetical questions about a matter that's before the courts," she said.
 

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Abbott fails to raise boats plan with SBY

Mr Abbott did not discuss his plan to "turn back the boats" with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during their meeting in Jakarta. Picture: Adek Berry Source: AFP

OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott has discussed asylum-seeker policy with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, but has again passed up the opportunity to raise his plan of "turning back the boats".

Mr Abbott has consistently called for the Australian government to better communicate with Jakarta when it makes foreign policy decisions that impact on its nearest neighbour.

But in a meeting with Dr Yudhoyono in Jakarta, Mr Abbott chose not to raise his plan of turning asylum-seeker boats around, a key plank in his border protection policy.

Instead, he is understood to have spoken with Dr Yudhoyono of the need to combat people smuggling through the regional framework known as the Bali Process.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, who attended the meeting between Mr Abbott and Dr Yudhoyono, said there "was no specific identification of the need to ... turn around boats".

The Indonesian government is known to be staunchly opposed to the plan.

"The two sides identified the need to strengthen the Bali Process, reflecting the fact that the challenge is one that must be shouldered by countries of origin, countries of transit, as well as countries of destination," Mr Natalegawa said.

Earlier in the day, Immigration Minister Chris Bowen taunted Mr Abbott about not having discussed the policy with Dr Yudhoyono in another meeting in Darwin in July.

"Now, if Mr Abbott has the guts to raise turning back the boats with Mr Yudhoyono, that will be a significant development considering he didn't have the guts to raise it last time they met," Mr Bowen said.

"Unless Mr Abbott can change that position, then he is just all talk about turning back the boats."

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono speaks toOpposition Leader Tony Abbott during their meeting in Jakarta. Picture: Adek Berry Source: AFP

The decision by Mr Abbott to again pass up the opportunity to raise the plan with Dr Yudhoyono came after he earlier in the day continued his criticism of the Gillard government, which he says has neglected Indonesia in terms of foreign policy.

"As far as humanly possible, a coalition government would try to deal with its Indonesian counterpart as a candid friend and never make decisions that impact on Indonesia without discussing them first," Mr Abbott told a business lunch.

Following the talks with the president, Mr Abbott spoke of importance of the relationship with Indonesia.

"It is a testament to the strength and importance of Australia's relationship with our nearest neighbour that such a meeting was able to take place," he said.

During the meeting with Mr Abbott, Dr Yudhoyono spoke of the need for Australia and Indonesia to continue to co-operate in the fight against terrorism.

"We are very serious in combating terrorism and that's why we need to continue our partnership and co-operating in making this region safer, in ensuring that we not surrender to acts of terrorism," Dr Yudhoyono said.

Mr Abbott, who has been in Jakarta since Friday after attending a memorial for the 10th anniversary of the Bali bombings, praised Dr Yudhoyono for his efforts in combating terrorism.

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PM demands action on insider attacks

Julia Gillard wears her helmet and body armour beside Lieutenant General Powell before take off in a RAAF Hercules C-31 from Kabul. Picture: David Caird Source: News Limited

JULIA Gillard has demanded a personal assurance from Afghan President Hamid Karzai that "everything that can be done will be done" to prevent further insider attacks against Australian troops.

Australia is also insisting on anti-corruption measures as it plans a $100 million-a-year aid program while Afghanistan prepares to take over security control from international forces in 2014.

In a flying visit to Afghanistan, the Prime Minister met Mr Karzai and the head of the International Security Assistance Force, Gen. John Allen, in Kabul before flying to Tarin Kowt where she addressed hundreds of Australian soldiers.

Ms Gillard said troop morale was strong despite the August attack which left three Diggers dead at the hand of someone in an Afghan soldier's uniform.

Senior Australian military personnel said the insurgents were growing weaker and losing support, and attacks were being driven into increasingly remote parts of the country.

Julia Gillard takes a tour around the at the Multi National Base in Tarin Kowot, Afghanistan. Picture: David Caird

ISAF deputy chief of staff of operations, Brig. Roger Noble, said the international forces believed they were putting the pieces in place to give the Afghanis an opportunity for the future, and the mission had built a strong foundation. "Do we think it will be perfect and without risk into the future? No," he said.

Ms Gillard said she wanted to be "in country" to discuss the transition in security to Afghan forces. She said her talks with Gen. Allen and Mr Karzai suggested Afghanistan was ready to take over security leadership in 2014.

In a surprise visit to the troops at their base in Tarin Kowt, in Oruzgan province, Ms Gillard linked their mission to the fight against terrorism sparked by the deaths of more than 100 Australians since the September 11, 2001, attack on the US.

"One reason I'm here today is just to say a big thank-you to you on behalf of the Australian nation for everything you do. We understand how hard it is.''

Julia Gillard reaches to pick from the salmon platter in the the shape of Australia with ADF personal during dinner at the Multi National Base in Tarin Kowot, Afghanistan. Picture: David Caird

Ms Gillard said the people of Australia were full of  "admiration for the way you kept going even when it's been really, really tough.''

The Prime Minister was briefed on the progress in the transition of security responsibility to Afghan forces by the head of the International Security Assistance Force US general John Allen.

International forces believe that while Afghanistan continues to confront major problems its security forces will be ready to take over in2014, the deadline for a handback of responsibilities.

Ms Gillard also met the governor of Oruzgan province and toured the hospital on the base.

Julia Gillard shares a laugh with Australian soldiers during dinner at the Multi National Base in Tarin Kowot, Afghanistan. Picture: David Caird

Ms Gillard's trip to Afghanistan immediately followed the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Bali bombings and she said it was "so meaningful to what's happening here in Afghanistan today''.

Citing the chance survival of revellers at Bali's Sari Club ten years ago because they had left the dance floor and the long recovery of burns victims, Ms Gillard some people for the rest of their lives would be impacted by the attack.

"When you think about those stories they really add up to something very powerful about what terrorism is,'' Ms Gillard said.

Ms Gillard said in one flash everything ordinary could be destroyed.

"And people for the rest of their lives are either grieving for someone they've lost or they are recovering from the injuries either physical or psychological or both,'' she said.

Ms Gillard said the terrorist attacks on Australians had all been linked to Afghanistan in that the perpetrators had been trained there.

Ms Gillard said fighting the global war on terror had brought Australian troops to Afghanistan so that terrorists would never again be trained in the country.

She said she wanted to be "in country'' to discuss the transition in security responsibility to Afghan forces.

Earlier in her meeting with President Karzai, the Afghan leader said he would do all he could to prevent further insider attacks against Australian soldiers.

Mr Karzai has also agreed to fight corruption, seen as one of the major stumbling to the development of the country after the full handover of power in 2014.

Ms Gillard said her talks with General Allen and Mr Karzai suggested Afghanistan was ready to take over security leadership in 2014.

"From the briefings I've received, I've been very clearly told that the mission we've defined for ourselves is on track,'' Ms Gillard said.

Ms Gillard said Afghanistan was a very poor country and it was clear Australian would have an ongoing role as part of the NATO train, advise, assist mission and Australia had left the door open on a possible continuing role for Special Forces.

The lightning stop comes before the Prime Minister arrives in India for her first official visit there.

It is the second time Ms Gillard has made a surprise visit to Afghanistan. In November 2011, she visited Australian troops on her way back from a G20 meeting in Cannes.

Ms Gillard  will  seek to improve Australia's ties with India during a three-day visit in which trade links - including possible future uranium sales - will figure strongly.

Ms Gillard is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi on Monday for what is being billed as her major bilateral international trip for the year.

She will be working hard to get the relationship on track after a troubled few years that included racist attacks on Indian students in Melbourne, which unleashed a firestorm of anti-Australian sentiment in the South Asian nation.

On Tuesday she is to visit two of Delhi's slum areas, home to some of the world's poorest people.

On Wednesday,.Ms Gillard meets Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, President Pranab Mukherjee and other senior government figures for talks on region security issues, trade and investment.

India is Australia's fourth-largest export market, with total two-way trade valued at more than $20 billion.

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Bernardi stands by gay marriage claim

SA Liberal senator Cory Bernardi has stood by his comments linking gay marriage to bestiality, saying the reaction to his speech in Parliament was "hysterical". Source: The Advertiser

LIBERAL firebrand Cory Bernardi has reaffirmed his controversial comment linking gay marriage to bestiality, branding the political and media reaction as "hysteria".

But in an exclusive interview, his first since travelling to Britain after being sacked as Tony Abbott's parliamentary secretary a month ago, the South Australian senator accepted he had put his leader in a difficult position.

He said he had therefore decided "to take one for the team".

However, he also said that while he had learnt a lesson from the backlash against his words, he did not resile from their substance.

He claimed there was "integrity" to the argument that if the definition of marriage were broadened to include gays on the grounds of current attitudes, there would also be a case for other changes in the future according to attitudes prevailing then.

"You can bet your bottom dollar there are always going to be demands to redefine it in other ways as well," Senator Bernardi said.

Senator Cory Bernardi's comments debate linking legalising gay marriage to bestiality.

The comments suggest he has no intention of being silenced by opponents across the political divide or critics within his own party, whom he described as part of "this oppressive cult of political correctness" in Australia.

Yesterday he issued another of his regular internet-linked videos under the title "CBTV" or Cory Bernardi TV. In it he aired allegations about Prime Minister Julia Gillard's time as a union lawyer and her links with two shady AWU figures before she entered parliament. 

A strong conservative linked to the Liberals' right faction, Senator Bernardi reserved a particular attack for the Greens, arguing the party was in thrall to extreme views that included those of controversial animal rights philosopher Peter Singer.

"Given that the Greens count him as a founder and that they proposed the same-sex marriage Bill, one I think is entitled to question 'what will be their future demands?' And asking 'where will it all end?' is I think, an important and legitimate question in a house of review," he said.

The outspoken senator was demoted for the second time in what has become a roller-coaster career after he touched off a storm of controversy with the bestiality reference in the Senate on September 18.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott described Liberal senator Cory Bernardi's remarks linking bestiality and gay marriage as 'ill-disciplined'. Picture: Dean Martin

Several prominent figures, including his former leader and current frontbencher Malcolm Turnbull, described the Bernardi bestiality speech as extreme and hysterical.

"That is the worst sort of slippery slope argument," Mr Turnbull said. "They're not the views of mainstream Australian society, let alone of the Liberal Party."

Mr Abbott, who initially drew criticism for appearing to soft-shoe his level of outrage, also condemned the reference to animals as part of the marriage debate.

"I will not tolerate comments that are offensive to people in same-sex relationships," he later said. 

Mr Bernardi denied rumours that pressure was being exerted on him to relinquish his number-one place on the Liberal Party Senate ticket in SA next year, and dismissed as ridiculous speculation about his giving up the cherished spot for floundering SA Liberal leader Isobel Redmond.

Malcolm Turnbull 'dissociates' himself from gay marriage comments made by Liberal senator Cory Bernardi.

He said despite his setback, he would like to return to the front bench in the future but vowed not to be silenced on important issues.

"Modern politics is about twisting and distorting words for political gain and that's what they (his opponents) have done," he said.

"You cop it sweet when you get it wrong, but this is an absurdity when you can't raise I think legitimate points with this sort of hysteria." 

Mr Bernardi said that he had been derided as an extremist over a succession of stances, but that his views had turned out to be mainstream in the end.

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Pin pulled on Alzheimer's research

Drug companies are giving up on Alzheimer's research.

DRUG companies are calling off the search for an Alzheimer's wonder drug after more than a dozen expensive failures, prompting Australian scientists to call for greater public investment.

With drug trials costing up to $1 billion and no guarantee of success, companies - including Pfizer and AstraZeneca - are increasingly opting for simpler projects with more chance of yielding a financial windfall.

The head researcher in neural plasticity and regeneration at the Garvan Institute, Bryce Vissel, said drug companies were too quick to give up on trials to develop a drug to cure or better manage Alzheimer's disease. 

In the US, the Obama Administration has moved to fill the void created by the mass exodus of drug companies with an extra $130 million over the next two years.

In Australia, the Prime Minister has announced a 10-year plan to reshape aged care but Dr Vissel said it was a shame the $3.7 billion Living Longer Living Better plan did not include additional funding for research into the most common form of dementia.

"If you think that the cost of dementia is going to be $83 billion by 2060, it seems to makes some sense to put some money and some investment in dementia research," he said.

"At the moment we put in $24 million in Australia but there have been calls for $250 million a year, which against the costs we're going to be facing is pretty well insignificant."

A senior lecturer in pharmacology at the University of Adelaide, Ian Musgrave, said some scientists believed the brain of an Alzheimer's sufferer began to change about 25 years before symptoms began to show.

If the theory holds, that could mean that trials, which were typically conducted on people battling symptoms, needed to be overhauled.

"If this disease is beginning 25 years before we see overt symptoms then by the time we are starting a lot of these trials ... it may be impossible to reverse," he said.

About 300,000 Australians suffer from dementia, the most common form of which is Alzheimer's, costing the economy $5 billion a year.

There are four drugs available to help sufferers.

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Roxon aware of Slipper's lurid texts

Attorney-General Nicola Roxon / Pic: Stuart Mcevoy Source: The Daily Telegraph

ATTORNEY-General Nicola Roxon has admitted being briefed on the lurid text messages that brought down Peter Slipper as Speaker before lodging court action claiming the case against him was vexatious four months ago.

After days of claiming that legal professional privilege prevented her from saying when she first knew of the messages, Ms Roxon last night confirmed she learnt of them between May 28 and June 15 when the government filed its application to have the case struck out claiming it was an abuse of process.

"Yes, we were certainly aware of the range of material that was provided," she told ABC's 7.30 Report.

Asked why the government tried to stop staffer James Ashby's sexual harassment case given the material, Ms Roxon said the vexatious application had nothing to do with the substance of allegations against Mr Slipper such as the content of the text.

"You can make an application that a matter is vexatious because it is bought from improper purpose it doesn't go to the content or the substance of the claim before the court," she said.

Her admission means Ms Roxon had known for four months about Mr Slipper's vulgar texts as she and other ministers pursued Mr Ashby publicly, supported Mr Slipper staying Speaker and also separately attacked Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.

It emerged yesterday Mr Slipper was choosing an artist for an official portrait, to cost taxpayers more than $30,000.

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Visit to revive uranium talks

PM Julia Gillard arrives New Delhi after a traditional Indian greeting at the Taj Mahal Hotel. Picture: David Caird Source: Herald Sun

AUSTRALIA'S refusal to sell uranium to India had been an "obstacle" to getting a larger slice of the benefits of the booming Indian economy, Prime Minister Julia Gillard said last night.

Arriving in New Delhi for a three-day state visit, the PM said the rise of the Indian middle-class would play a big role in Australia's future.

She played down concerns by anti-nuclear campaigners that selling uranium would lead to a build up of weapons in Asia.

Pictures: Julia Gillard visits India

Ms Gillard said Australia would negotiate safeguards that would be backed by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

She said Australian uranium would only be used for peaceful purposes and it was in India's interests to have a robust and safe nuclear industry.

The PM said Labor's previous ban on uranium sales to India  "had become an obstacle in our relationship".

Australia is already a big supplier of education services with high numbers of Indian students in Australia.

But the PM believes the uranium deal will open the way to selling expertise in health, legal, financial services, technical innovation and water technology.

Ms Gillard said Australia and India had a history of shared values and strategic interests and it was time to broaden and deepen ties.

"This is a very important relationship for Australia," she said.

"India is one of those nations that in our region of the world in this Asian century we will see grow spectacularly in economic weight, we will see the rise of its middle-class."

Ms Gillard's visit will aim to boost wider business and cultural ties with the world's largest democracy and massively growing economy of 1.3 billion people.

Trucking boss Lindsay Fox is leading a business delegation which includes ANZ chief Mike Smith and Rio Tinto's Sam Walsh.

Relations with India turned sour when Kevin Rudd cancelled talks about selling uranium after the Howard Government had backed the idea.

Trade Minister Craig Emerson yesterday admitted there "had been a difficulty in the relationship between Australia and India" over the uranium issue.

Dr Emerson said Ms Gillard's visit aimed to "deepen and enrich this relationship as part of our push on Australia in the Asian Century".

There is expected to be a big focus on India in the upcoming White Paper being prepared by Ken Henry.

Dr Emerson said India was "pleased" talks were back on after last year's ALP national conference voted to overturn the ban on uranium sales to India amid high emotion.

Three Cabinet ministers, including Right-winger Stephen Conroy who was in tears during the debate, voted against Ms Gillard.

Left-winger Doug Cameron said Labor's light on the hill would become a green pulsating nuclear light.

Dr Emerson said safeguards would be negotiated before any sale took place and it would "take time" to get it right.

The Government already has 22 agreements with other countries to sell uranium but India has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The Government wants the safeguards to have the same strict rules to make sure Australian uranium is only used for domestic energy purposes.

Australia has the world's largest deposits of uranium.

The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) said India had nuclear weapons and it would be impossible to verify that Australian uranium was not diverted for weapons.

"If this deal goes ahead, Australian uranium will likely fuel – directly or indirectly – the build-up of nuclear arms in South Asia. India is still producing both highly enriched uranium and plutonium for weapons, expanding its nuclear arsenal and investing heavily in new nuclear-capable missiles and submarines," said ICAN co-chair Dr Tilman Ruff.

"India used a reactor supplied by Canada and fuel provided by the US – both supplied only for peaceful purposes – to make the plutonium for its first nuclear bombs."

India is not a party to any nuclear disarmament treaty, and nuclear safeguards agreements don't apply to India's military facilities, meaning that it's impossible to verify that Australian uranium is not diverted for weapons purposes."

India has shot dead two anti-nuclear campaigners in recent weeks and there have been reports India's auditor-general raised safety concerns about a possible Chernobyl-style disaster.

Greens Senator Scott Ludlum said India was ranked 28 out of 32 countries for safety of its nuclear stockpile.

"The Prime Minister should put human rights and safety before uranium profits during her current visit to India," Senator Ludlam said.

The Opposition supports selling uranium to India. Frontbencher Mitch Fifield said it would help increase living standards in India by providing cheap energy.

Australia's relationship with India also suffered a blow in 2009 when attacks against Indian students were labelled racial attacks and led to a storm of protest against Australia in the India media.

Ms Gillard made her first official visit to India in 2009 as Education Minister to try and address concerns.

The PM last night said she belived the problem had been fixed but would find out on this trip if there was any lingering strain.

"My sense is since then we have addressed those concerns," she said.

She told one story about how the community in Melbourne's west in her own electorate went out of their way to "strengthen their embrace of Indian students" after there had been an attack at Werribee train station.

"The Aussie character was on display as we responded to it," she said.
 

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Hey mum and dad - get a life!

First-time mum Hayley Cooke wiht daughter Lillyanna / Pic: Justin Lloyd Source: The Daily Telegraph

THEY know the entire Wiggles back-catalogue by heart, tune in to Play School religiously and fill every spare minute with baby-talk - that's the parents, not the children.

But now experts say parents' obsession with all things baby is not always the best thing for their kids.

Anyone with a child or friends who have them would be familiar with how every conversation comes back to babies whenever new parents are together, and how many parents struggle to embrace life beyond their new roles.

But psychologist Beulah Warren, who has worked with children and their parents for more than 20 years through her Family Futures practice in Sydney, said some parents became so wrapped up in raising their children they become closed off to the world around them.

That cocooning instinct is natural in the four to six months after a baby is born, but longer periods are often to the detriment of themselves, their relationships and, ironically, their children.

"Children benefit from parents having interests away from them, and of course parents benefit from having adult friendships and associations," Ms Warren said.

"Striking that balance between focusing on the family and the children, but also following their own careers and interests and maintaining their own friendships and relationships is a constant concern for most parents right up until their children leave home."

It's a challenge made tougher by the pressure on many families to work longer hours and for both parents to be employed to make ends meet.

Karitane parenting help service education manager Monica Hughes said today's mums and dads were unfairly expected to be "super-parents".

"Parenting is a major, life-changing job and it's a 24-hour job," she said.

"But they shouldn't have to do everything. There is a fine line between what's healthy and what's not; if it's all-consuming and starts to cause anxiety, that's when there may be a problem."

First-time mum Hayley Cooke, 26, from Baulkham Hills, said she tried to keep a balance but having a baby "definitely changes your life".

"When you have kids your conversations change, you don't have time to go to the movies or things like that anymore," she said.

"You do definitely miss your own free time, you never really realise until you've lost it ... but (having a baby) it's the best thing ever."

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