Addendum to Finance Committee report to 2012 Annual Conference In May and June 2011, the Australian Labor Party

(NSW Branch) paid legal expenses incurred by Craig Thomson MP in a defamation action against Fairfax. The Party paid these expenses in accordance with its responsibility for the management and administration of all matters which affect the welfare of the Party. At its meeting on 1 September 2011, the Finance Committee received a report regarding these payments. The following motion was carried unanimously by the Finance Committee at its meeting on 1 September 2011: That the Finance Committee of the Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch) notes that in line with its responsibilities to oversee the affairs of the Party in NSW, the NSW Branch is providing financial assistance for the legal costs incurred by the Member for Dobell, Craig Thomson MP. At its meeting on 2 September 2011, the Administrative Committee received a report from the General Secretary regarding the payment of Mr Thomsons legal expenses, and the consultation process leading to the decision to provide financial assistance. The following motion was carried unanimously by the Administrative Committee at its meeting on 2 September 2011: That the General Secretarys report regarding the provision of financial assistance for legal costs incurred by the Federal Member for Dobell Craig Thomson MP be adopted. The resolution on this matter of the Finance Committee meeting held 1 September 2011 was noted. The Party subsequently paid additional legal expenses incurred by Mr Thomson in the defamation action against Fairfax and provided ongoing financial assistance to cover his legal expenses. On 4 May 2012, Mr Thomsons Party membership was suspended, and the Party ceased to provide him with financial assistance to cover his legal expenses. At its meeting on 18 May 2012, the Finance Committee received a report regarding the provision of financial assistance to cover Mr Thomsons legal expenses.

The following motions were carried unanimously by the Finance Committee at its meeting on 18 May 2012: Motion 1 The Finance Committee notes that the Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch) provided financial assistance for the legal costs incurred by the Member for Dobell Craig Thomson as part of its responsibilities to oversee the affairs of the Party in NSW. As Craig Thomson is a suspended member of the Labor Party, the motion endorsed at the 1 September 2011 meeting of this Committee no longer applies. The NSW Branch of the Labor Party will no longer provide financial assistance for any legal expenses incurred by Craig Thomson. Motion 2 That the Finance Committee present the 2012 NSW Labor Conference with a detailed report of the financial assistance provided for the legal costs incurred by the Member for Dobell Craig Thomson, subject to advice on the confidentiality restrictions on the publication of any material, including amounts paid. In accordance with the second motion, the Finance Committee advises that: 1. The Finance Committee has received legal advice that publication of the amounts paid in connection with the settlement of the defamation action between Craig Thomson and Fairfax would cause a breach of the nondisclosure agreement entered into between the parties. 2. However, the Party has received an express written waiver of confidentiality in this matter from Fairfax. 3. While significant legal expenses were incurred and covered by Craig Thomson, the cost of legal expenses to NSW Labor in relation to providing financial assistance to cover Mr Thomsons legal expenses, including NSW Labors own bills in relation to these matters, totalled $348,366.87 including GST. $240,000 of this amount was in connection with the settlement of the defamation action between Craig Thomson and Fairfax.