Australia PM suspends embattled lawmaker from party

SYDNEY, Apr 29: Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard today moved to distance herself from growing anger at a series of government scandals, suspending a lawmaker accused of misusing funds, a week after the parliament Speaker stood down over a sexual harassment lawsuit.The suspension of Craig Thomson from the ruling Labor Party was seen as unlikely to weaken Gillard�s already tenuous grip on power as he is expected to support the government as an independent.The prime minister has been struggling after months of poor polls, which predict a landslide victory by opposition leader Tony Abbott in an election which must be held by next year at the latest.Her government has relied on independents since a 2010 general election, which returned a hung parliament.Gillard said the accusations against Thomson, coupled with the sexual harassment lawsuit against parliamentary Speaker Peter Slipper, had shaken public confidence in� parliament.�I believe a line has been crossed about respect for the parliament,� she told a media confidence, adding that Australians now saw �a dark cloud� over parliament.Slipper denies allegations he sexually harassed a male staff member and misused taxi vouchers.Thomson has been under investigation for almost four years for misusing funds from his time as a union official. He denies the allegations.Veteran political commentator Malcom MacKerras said Gillard�s action was astute by saving the Labor Party from further embarrassment and help it see out its three-year term.�I think that she has handled it extremely well,� MacKerras, of the Australian Catholic University, told Reuters.But Gillard was still likely to lose the election, he� added.(AGENCIES)