Well, you did the right thing all the way through too, Michael. Must feel like vindication week with this and the Faine apology.

Well done to both you and the dees.

Did Julia know the Thompson was going to be arrested before she called the election. I smell a rat

Well done Victoria Police Fraud Squad, officers of your high standards helps to restore our faith in law enforcement. Also thank you Victorian Coalition Government for not following the Labor government tradition of covering up for maates. And you must be congratulated too Michael, thank you all.

FORMER parliamentary Speaker Peter Slipper risks losing millions of dollars in retirement benefits if he is convicted of using his government Cabcharge card to tour restaurants and wineries.

When he retires, Mr Slipper can expect to receive a yearly pension of about $157,000 for the rest of his life.

However, if he is found guilty of the alleged fraud, Mr Slipper is likely to lose everything besides a refund of his superannuation contributions (without interest).

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/slipper-faces-pension-dilemma-20130109-2cgua.html#ixzz2JWG0sXhU

So, I guess the same could be said about Craig.

"The sub judice rule and contempt of court" - "The sub judice rule regulates the publication of matters which are under consideration by the court. Matters are considered to be sub judice (Latin for 'under judgment') once legal proceedings become active." - http://www.out-law.com/page-9742

Does it mean comments regarding the accused must cease, now?

Yes obviously the slight opening of Labor's pandoras box! Royal Commission???

Thank you Michael, and the Vic Police. You have made my day.

Now I am satisfied they have done the job they are paid to do without fear or favour.

Hi Michael, congratulations.

Your resume has been accepted and you are now officially a representative of the public voice and democracy.

Sorry but this is a heavy load to lift. That said you have enormous public support, you will continue to face much opposition but your credibility, balance and public interest will see you through.

Your faith in the Victorian Police force is vindicated which is refreshing for all Australains.

Williamson tick, Thomson tick, Wilson next, then Gillard. I fear she might resign or get pushed. Alternatively, she might hang in and take down the entire barrel of rotten apples.

What a choice? All of which are delicious.

Your good fortune will continue and your future is secure.

Michael, Congratulations to you and The Princess and the family, Always believe you, never had any doubts at all.

You deserve all the credit and more!

Re the calling of an election.
I'll stand corrected but no writ has been issued and the election date can be changed to any time up to September so technically no election has been called so there could be a by-election held if there was a vacancy. One for the legal eagles.

The motto of the Victorian Police Force is "Uphold the Right".

The motto of Juliar and the Left seems to be: "Uphold the Wrong".

The good guys won this battle.

Now for the war...

We must not overlook the role of Senator George Brandis SC who relentlessly pressed the NSW Police to take action in the Thomson matter. I am sure that without him the matter would have drifted away in to "too hot/hard" basket.

Thompson is innocent until proven guilty.
He can still sit in parliament until he gets 1 year on the top, bankrupted, yada yada yada.

Surely the Prime minister can make an unfounded captains call and drop him.

geoff @ 02:15 PM

As Thomson was elected post 2004 he superannuation benefits differ from those of Slipper.

http://www.finance.gov.au/superannuation/parliamentary-superannuation/new-parliamentary-superannuation-arrangements.html

I hope this is just the entre before the main course.

Gillard asked who is Michael Smith, well take a good Julia Gillard because his is just over your shoulder. look to the left then look to the right, keep looking because sooner than you think your about to get a real good look at Michael Smith.

How sweat it is.

May I also congratulate you Michael for a job well done. Keep up the great work. We appreciate everything that you do in these grubby matters of crime and corruption.

I hate going to the supermarket but today I skipped there - yippeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!

Michael there must be a God!!!

Heartfelt thanks to our boys and girls in blue. Today, faith in our legal system has been restored. Like many, many hard working and law abiding citizens, we were beginning to think that we had no-one to turn to as our country and it's democratic processes were being systematically ripped out from under our feet. I feel today that we have clawed back some justice. No-one, including the lawmakers, are above the law. God bless each and everyone that has upheld that law.

Now we know what Michael was so excited about 2 weeks ago.

Congratulations to Michael, and also to the investigators at Victoria Police and their well-respected Commissioner Ken Lay.

I couldn't see the same thing happening under either of Ken Lay's 2 A.L.P.-appointed predecessors.

I just hope now that the prosecutors are up to the task and that the Federal Attorney General's Department is NOT given the opportunity to successfully "lose" any further incriminating documents concerning A.L.P. figures.

Hey, Michael..... Now that all your good work is starting to pay off, and a date is set for the election, would you consider running for the senate? I'd reckon you could easily get in. Any thoughts?

His lawyer was just interviewed on ABC24 and blames it on the hung Parliament. Says if he was an ordinary back bencher where the Government had a 6 or 7 seat majority we wouldn't be having this conversation as he wouldn't be subject to investigation.

One must wonder if Juliar knew prior to the official announcement regarding the arrest

Watched Tony Abbott at the National Press Club today and his grin from ear to ear when told of Thomson's arrest was something else. One down one to go. Yay!!! It will be interesting to watch Gillard from now on especially given Richo's pasting this morning. (Not that he is a pure as the driven snow either). Wonder if someone is running a book on whether the election will actually be held on 14 September. Will she drop another bombshell and change the date to suit her purposes? She is not to be trusted.

Listened to the interview with Craig Thomson's lawyer. He did mention (I think) that it was all over $300.00 - that is all. I want to know what part Tony Abbott played in all of this. Maybe Tony pretended to be Craig?

Congratulations Michael and also Kathy Jackson. In one respect I hope Gillard faces the voters resulting in a massacre at ballot boxes and the demise of her squalled band ex union officials and Labor lackeys.

To those of you suggesting Michael should become a politician I would like to pay Michael a big complement and say that he is doing a far better job and will go on to do greater things outside politics! Thank you Michael for all that you are doing for the benefit of all Australians.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CjjLe_YzNM

This should be Michael Smiths song, awesome!!

1 down,1 to go indeed Michael.
This is the beginning of the end.
Bob K is right,history in the making.
Enjoy the ride folks.

Mike, When the time is right, start your own party and make sure Kathy Jackson is in there. I'll vote for you guys. We need to restore the faith in the political system and it needs a fresh start with people of unquestionable integrity. Labour is as corrupt to the core and I have my concerns with the Libs also.

To Arch at 3:50pm today the AEC FAQs have the following” What is a by-election?
If a Member of the Legislative Assembly resigns or dies, an election is held to determine his/her replacement. A by-election will only be held if the vacancy occurs less than three years and six months after the first meeting of the Legislative Assembly following the previous general election.”
Similarly, if a council member resigns or dies, an election is held only to fill the vacancy. A by-election does not have to be held if the vacancy occurs in the 12 months before general elections are due.”.
Current Labor was sworn in on 14 Sept 2010 so 3 years 6 months not up until 14 March at earliest (if I’m reading this right). If Thomson’s arrest today was such a big surprise to Gillard then there must be someone, or a splinter faction, menacing her with a threat to resign and thereby bring on a by-election or 2. Gillard has shored up her stay in the Lodge by announcing the election and if the threat went ahead could waste time arguing that since election date has been set by-election doesn’t need to be held until she is past the 3 years 6 months (14 March) clause. Now the big question is who are the faceless men and women pressuring Gillard and is their only power a threat of a by election. Why not just cross the floor on some crucial votes – or is that their backup plan? Who knows the independents might finally be growing a back bone – held together by the usual dishonest motivation of self preservation – since they know their time is up anyway.
Anyway link to AEC is http://www.ntec.nt.gov.au/ElectionsAndReferendums/ElectionFAQs/Pages/default.aspx#ElectionFAQ3

Following on Earl's point.... could that someone who might be threatening to resign by chance be Robert McClelland?... I am just guessing here....

The only other person who might contemplate resignation is Peter Slipper. However, I doubt that Slippery will want to resign at this point in time.