We think that three homes and an 88p bathplug are grounds for snouts-in-the-trough accusations. How about snouts-in…hmm move on from that.

Australian Labor MP for New South Wales and ex-union leader Craig Thomson seems to have stolen about AUS$100,000 from that union to pay for two hookers, time spent in a brothel…and his election campaign.

From the Australian Age (a Sydney Morning Herald story) we learn:

…”Previously unreleased documents show that officials of the Health Services Union have concluded that credit cards issued to Mr Thomson and other union resources were used for spending on his 2007 campaign for the NSW seat of Dobell.

Mr Thomson, 44, was the union’s national secretary from 2002 to 2007, and is now chairman of the House of Representatives economics committee.

Officials concluded that Mr Thomson’s union Commonwealth credit card was used to withdraw cash advances totalling $101,533 over five years.

The documents also suggest a Commonwealth MasterCard in Mr Thomson’s name was used for payments to operators of a brothel and two escort services as well as numerous payments to restaurants and bars and for personal items.”…

Mr Jacqui Smith only used their card to buy a couple of movies and some Kleenex. Maybe if he has indeed as rumoured been banished to the sofa he should be taking notes from our Aussie cousins. With his left hand, of course.

TheEye is grateful to learn that the payments in question were:
* A payment of $330 in February 2003 to Aboutoun Catering of North Sydney, which is listed in the Yellow Pages as an escort service.
* Two payments of $570 and $2475 in 2003 and 2005 to ‘‘Keywed Pty Ltd Restaurant’’ in Surry Hills, a company listed on the internet as the payee for clients of the Sydney Outcalls Network, an escort agency.
* A payment of $418 in June 2005 to Nolta Pty Ltd, a company that South Sydney City Council records show operates Tiffanys brothel in Surry Hills.

This of course now saves TheEye from having to look through the phonebook or ask the hotel receptionist for discreet advice when next visting New South Wales.