Senator Eric Abetz

The six month Pontville Detention Centre has cost taxpayers a devastating $45 million to the end of January 2012 with the total cost expected to blow out to over $50 million.

“The waste and incompetence that was the Pontville Detention Centre has ballooned out to levels that I find hard to believe,” Senator Abetz said today.

“Newly elected ACTU Secretary Dave Oliver’s plan to force union members to pay even “more” for another union slush fund is yet a further example of the same type of slush fund which helped ‘the Artful Dodger’, Craig Thomson, in Dobell,” Senator Abetz said today.

“Mr Oliver’s request for funds from his members to campaign against the Coalition without telling us what he is actually campaigning for, other than to get more union officials into the Parliament, confirms that this is nothing but a political levy.”

“Paul Howes, one of Julia Gillard’s strongest backers, has belled the cat with his comments today confirming that Labor has handled the Craig Thomson scandal differently than it otherwise would in a desperate attempt to cling onto power,” Senator Abetz said today.

“Mr Howes’ comments reflect the view that if it wasn’t for the fact that Julia Gillard and Labor are hanging by a thread in minority Government then the Prime Minister would most likely have dumped Mr Thomson months ago.”

“Suspended Labor MP Craig Thomson’s interview this morning with Laurie Oakes raised even more questions about the scandal embroiling the Prime Minister and her Government,” Senator Abetz said today.

In his speech to the Parliament next week Mr Thomson will need to explain, amongst other things: