Former Labor MP Craig Thomson objects to ongoing court delays over fraud charges

Former MP Craig Thomson’s lawyer has expressed his client’s frustration over ongoing delays relating to 30 charges he is facing over alleged Visa and JobKeeper fraud.

Former Labor MP Craig Thomson is frustrated over ongoing delays in his alleged fraud matters before court.

Mr Thomson, 57, appeared at Gosford Local Court on Thursday where he was expected to enter pleas to charges of alleged Visa and JobKeeper fraud.

The matter is being handled by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) which requested a six week adjournment.

The CDPP prosecutor said there was still a large amount of information to go through regarding the 30 charges which relate to two types of alleged fraud relating to Australian Border Force (ABF) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

Mr Thomson’s criminal lawyer Jamie Clements opposed the six week delay.

“Mr Thomson’s house raids by the AFP were almost 12 months ago,” he told the court.

“He was arrested subsequently on 17th November 2021 and these charges were laid. It's a situation where the six month period has expired.

“I understand they are complex matters but the AFP had the basis to raid his house over 12 months ago and arrested him four months later. One would expect they would be almost ready to proceed.”

The former Labor politician leaving Gosford Police Station after his arrest in November 2021. Picture: David Swift

Mr Clements said the former Dobell MP was subject to strict bail conditions, reporting to police every second day and unable to leave the state. He said in the last two months, they had only received a USB with 20 photos from the CDPP.

“That’s the progress in two months,” he said. “If that’s the pace the AFP and ABF are interested in moving, further adjournments should look to be taken with some seriousness.”

Magistrate Christopher Longley granted the six week adjournment, however said he understood objections to the delay considering the alleged offences were between 2017 and 2020.

“Fraud matters tend to take a little bit of time to put together a brief,” he said.

“They are very serious matters and if convicted he will receive a term of imprisonment.”

However he warned the CDPP prosecutor that “time is marching on” and said any further adjournments would see the “question of costs” addressed.

Magistrate Christopher Longley said this would be the last adjournment in the matter. Picture: David Swift

Magistrate Longley said “this is the last adjournment for charge certification” before setting the matter down for September 13.

Mr Thomson is facing 30 charges relating to allegedly falsifying visa documents and accepting payments for visa sponsorships, which were ultimately refused, as well as obtaining JobKeeper funds by deception.

The AFP allege in charge sheets that Thomson obtained $27,900 in JobKeeper payments for two staff each between June 30 2020 and April 2021 from a Wyong cafe he owned totalling $55,800.

However the cafe shut in June 2020 when the landlord demolished the building as part of a refurbishment of the site.

The AFP also allege the total amount Thomson received in payments for failed visa applications was $80,000.

In May 2022, Mr Thomson pleaded not guilty over alleged Covid payment fraud charges to the value of $25,000.

The charges included two counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, publishing false and misleading material to obtain advantage and making false documents to obtain financial advantage.

This matter was also mentioned before Magistrate Longley on Thursday with Mr Clements asking for an adjournment to September 13.