Opposition leader Tony Abbott will today deliver his strongest attack yet against the Fair Work Australia investigation into allegations Labor MP Craig Thomson misused his former union credit card.
In Victoria this morning, during a speech to the Master Builders' Association, Mr Abbott will condemn the watchdog for the time its investigation has taken.
Mr Thomson is accused of using his Health Services Union credit card for personal gain, including for the services of prostitutes.
The Member for Dobell denies any wrongdoing and Prime Minister Julia Gillard is standing by him.
But the opposition leader insists the inquiry is taking too long and has raised the suggestion of government interference, which Ms Gillard refutes.
Mr Abbott will tell the business conference that Fair Work Australia should be eager to publish all correspondence between its investigators and the Government.
''As a former federal minister for over nine years, including three years as minister for employment and workplace relations, I do not lightly question the impartiality, competence and commitment to due process of federal agencies,'' he says.
''Hence the gravity of my concerns over the Craig Thomson investigation. For an organisation that administers an Act which aims to improve workplace productivity, Fair Work Australia's own productivity has to be questioned.''
Mr Abbott says Fair Work Australia should be eager to dispel the slightest perception of an institutional go-slow designed to protect a Labor government.
''Its investigation into Thomson is now into its fourth year: longer than the Wood royal commission, longer than the Fitzgerald inquiry, and much longer than the Cole royal commission into the building industry,'' he says.
''The Watergate investigators did their work in 18 months. The Empire State Building went from sod turning to completion in one year and 45 days. So what kind of operation is Fair Work Australia conducting here? Prime Minister Gillard promised that Fair Work Australia would be an independent umpire.''
Mr Abbott's speech this morning follows an attempt in Parliament yesterday to suspend standing orders and force Ms Gillard to give a full statement about the Thomson affair.
Shadow Minister Christopher Pyne led the Coalition charge against the Prime Minister in calling for the suspension.
But Leader of the House Anthony Albanese said Mr Abbott did not want to debate the motion himself because he knew it was a flawed argument.
''This is based on such a flimsy approach that he has not had the ticker to move it himself. He has had the manager of opposition business [Mr Pyne] stand up and do it for him,'' he said.
''The Prime Minister has been in here this week answering question after question about the economy, because that is what we are interested in on this side of the House.''
It was the second motion against the Government this week, the first week of Parliament for the year. The opposition failed to get the numbers on both counts.
Independent MP Andrew Wilkie voted with the government yesterday, but had voted with the opposition when it tried to suspend standing orders to force an explanation over the Australia Day tent embassy protest.
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