Craig Thomson (Dobell, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I seek leave to make a personal explanation.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

Craig Thomson (Dobell, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Most grievously.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Dobell.

Craig Thomson (Dobell, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In Senate estimates yesterday during the hearing for the Australian Electoral Commission, Senator Ronaldson suggested that I had failed to disclose union donations to my election campaign. As a candidate I fully disclosed all donations to the AEC as required by the law. My responsibility for disclosure of HSU donations to candidates at the last federal election ceased when I took leave approximately six weeks prior to the election.

I draw members’ attention to the statement tabled by the AEC at the hearing and in particular draw attention to the following:

The only probative evidence of a breach of the act that the AEC has at this time is that the HSU national office returns were lodged too late, not that their content are misleading or incorrect in a material particular.

Financial returns for the 2007-08 financial year were due in October 2008. This is one year after I ceased my role with the HSU. Again referring to the statement:

The AEC has concluded that while there is a breach of the Electoral Act for late lodgement there is no public interest at stake that would see the AEC take any further action in relation to late lodgement of the returns.

The allegations and insinuations of Senator Ronaldson at Senate Estimates are totally false. I seek leave to table the AEC statement.

Leave granted.