Craig Thomson ordered to pay nearly $500,000 to HSU

Disgraced former union boss Craig Thomson has been ordered to compensate the Health Services Union.

Federal Court Judge Christopher Jessup said Thomson, who did not appear at the hearing, had shown no contrition or any appreciation of the seriousness of the matters found against him.

The federal court has ordered Craig Thomson to pay almost half a million dollars in fines, compensation and interest for breaking multiple Fair Work laws and failing his duties as head of the Health Services Union.

Justice Christopher Jessup said the need for “deterrence” was “magnified” as he handed down the penalties to the disgraced former Labor MP in a written judgment this morning.

Mr Thomson was ordered to repay $231,243 in union funds which he used to pay for his 2007 election campaign and personal spending on the HSU credit card on escorts.

The compensation amount included $123,800 spent by Mr Thomson’s staffer Criselee Stevens.

In the case brought by Fair Work Commission, Justice Jessup also this morning slapped Mr Thomson with a $80,050 fine — significantly shy of the maximum which could apply.

However Justice Jessup said Mr Thomson must pay the penalty within 74 days or face tens of thousands more in fines.

Justice Jessup said: “The significance of general deterrence is ... somewhat magnified in the circumstances of the present case” owing to “the respondent’s position was a very senior one in a national union.”

“Subordinate officials, and members, of the HSU would inevitably have regarded him as an example to be followed, most particularly in the areas of honesty and loyalty to the organisation which he served.”

Referring to the now notoriously corrupt culture among senior officials at the HSU, Justice Jessup stressed that Mr Thomson “worked in an environment where he was subject to little or no supervision, nor even surveillance, by other officers of the HSU”.

Fair Work Commission general manager Bernadette O’Neill said the “decision sends a clear message” to all union officials that “a failure to meet their obligations under the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act ... is a serious issue and will be treated accordingly”.

She added: “I am particularly pleased that this decision recognises the impact of Mr Thomson’s actions on the union’s membership by the awarding of compensation to the HSU”.