Craig Thomson: Former MP charged with visa fraud and AVO offences varies bail

Former federal Labor MP Craig Thomson will be able to continue exporting fruit and vegetables but won’t be allowed to visit farms under a raft of new bail measures, a court has heard.

Former Dobel Labor MP Craig Thomson has been given a court’s permission to relocate to an address at Narara and continue exporting fruit and vegetables to India but he can’t contact his former accountant or visit farms in Shepparton.

It comes as Commonwealth prosecutors indicate the once high-flying Health Union boss is facing further charges in relation to alleged visa migration fraud.

The 57-year-old faced Gosford Local Court on Tuesday where his solicitor, former NSW Labor boss Jamie Clements, applied to vary his client’s bail.

Mr Thomson’s solicitor and former NSW Labor boss Jamie Clements applied to vary his bail. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

The court heard Thomson had “limited income” from one remaining business interest in a fruit and vegetable exporting company and wished to continue to operate the venture.

The court heard in order to do so Mr Thomson required ongoing contact with business associate Satya Shukla and would involve visits to farms at Shepparton.

However the Commonwealth prosecutor said the investigation into Mr Thomson’s alleged visa fraud was “still under investigation” and he was “subject to further charges”.

She told the court Mr Shukla was likely to be a “material witness” in the ongoing investigation and some of the alleged fraudulent visa applications were linked to businesses in Shepparton.

Former Labor politician Craig Thomson leaves Gosford Police Station after his arrest by AFP officers last year. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Mr Clements also applied to have Mr Thomson’s police reporting conditions relaxed to three days a week, relocate from Terrigal to a new home address at Narara and be able to contact his accountancy firm.

Magistrate Michael Antrum granted the variation for Mr Thomson to contact Mr Shukla for the purposes of running the fruit and vegetable business but “by email only”.

He also relaxed Mr Thomson’s reporting conditions to three days and allowed him to move to Narara but refused any contact with his former accountancy firm or leaving NSW to visit regional Victoria.

Mr Thomson will be getting his coffee from Narara instead of Terrigal after a magistrate changed the address condition of his bail. Picture: David Swift

Thomson is accused of being the “primary facilitator of a multimillion-dollar migration fraud” after he was charged by Australian Federal Police (AFP) with 30 counts of providing false documents and false or misleading information relating to non-citizens, receiving a benefit in return for a sponsorship, obtaining financial advantage by deception and dealing with the proceeds of crime.

The AFP allege Thomson pocketed more than $2 million as a result of the syndicate.

He is also accused of breaching an apprehended violence order late last month, which was taken out by police last year to protect his ex-wife Zoe Arnold.

Magistrate Antrum adjourned the matter to May 17.