Craig Thomson spruiks mining investment in surprise new job

HE once blew $5000 of union money on prostitutes, now ‘desperate’ former Labor MP Craig Thomson has taken a surprise new job to make a buck.

CRAIG Thomson back in court fighting the Fair Work Commission in a Federal Court hearing. Talking to media outside court. Picture: Josie Hayden

HE once blew $5000 of union money on prostitutes, now disgraced former Labor MP Craig Thomson has turned to spruiking mining investment to make a buck

The ex-member for Dobell has been snapped making a speech at a raw materials summit in eastern China on behalf of a Sydney-based mining contractor called Xbauxi, Fairfax media reports.

He spoke of the benefits of small bauxite miners in Australia against competition such as Rio Tinto.

But Mr Thomson, who was fined $25,000 and spared jail time after being convicted of multiple counts of theft from the Health Services Union while he was in charge, was quick to distance himself from any direct financial link to the company, despite reportedly being listed as a “partner” on the official program.

“They needed a speech written,” he told Fairfax.

“I didn’t get paid but they covered my travel expenses. It was an opportunity and basically I’m desperately looking for work. I have two young daughters to feed.”

Mr Thomson told a court earlier this year he was depressed in the wake of the scandal which cost him his career, arguing his fragile mental health was the reason he would not fight a Fair Work Commission civil case against him over the alleged misspending of more than $240,000 in HSU funds while he was national secretary.

Mr Thomson has long maintained he was framed by party enemies.

Originally published as Craig Thomson spruiks mining investment in surprise new job