Arbib continues cover up over Thomson

22/08/11

Sports Minister the Hon. Mark Arbib has today refused to answer questions from Senator Ronaldson about his alleged role in brokering a payment to Craig Thomson made by the NSW Labor Party at the request of the Prime Minister’s Office.

Further Senator Arbib when pressed by Senator Ronaldson refused to deny reports that he advised Craig Thomson not to settle his defamation proceedings before the 2010 election.

Senator Ronaldson said:

"Mark Arbib had the opportunity today to deny reports about his role at the request of the Prime Minister’s office in arranging the payment of Craig Thomson’s legal fees by the NSW Labor Party.

“Instead Arbib argued that he did not have to answer my questions on a technicality.”

“This is a matter which has moved from the seat of Dobell to the highest seat of power in this nation, the Prime Minister’s office. Julia Gillard, Mark Arbib and the NSW Labor party can no longer hide from this issue and it is well past the time for them to come clean about what they know.”