Former federal politician and unionist Craig Thomson has been spared jail after fraudulently taking $25,000 (US$16,574) in grants from the government.
The disgraced ex-MP pleaded guilty to two counts of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception and was sentenced on Monday.
Mr. Thomson applied for and received $25,000 in COVID-19 support grant money for a cafe owned by his wife, from whom he has since separated.
Magistrate Daniel Covington ordered the former Health Services Union national secretary to serve a 14-month intensive corrections in the community, expiring on May 17, 2025.
The 59-year-old must also serve 250 hours of community service and repay the $25,000 to Service NSW.
Agreed facts filed with the court noted the ex-MP did not want things put in his own name.
“Any house, asset or business associated with [Mr. Thomson] was purposely put in his wife’s name until [their] separation,” the document said.
When Service NSW conducted a review a year after paying the grants, Mr. Thomson’s former wife informed them she did not make the application.
That sparked an audit, which revealed the former member for Dobell on the NSW Central Coast as the applicant.
The money was used to pay credit card debt, private school fees, a leased car, rented property and a mortgage.
Mr. Thomson was suspended by the Labor Party in 2012 and moved to the cross bench after accusations he misused members’ funds while at the HSU.
A Victorian court later convicted him over the theft.
