Former MP Craig Thomson relies on friends to pay $25k fine

Craig Thomson's family and friends are pitching in to the tune of $25,000 to help the former federal MP avoid jail.

Thomson appeared in the Victorian County Court today seeking an order that would allow him to make instalment payments on the fine he incurred for stealing union funds which he used to pay for prostitutes.

Judge Lisa Hannan granted his application to make an initial payment of $3,000 followed by a series of instalments that would enable him to pay his fine within two years.

Earlier this month the former national secretary of the Health Services Union sought an order that would allow him to pay instalments of $50 a month.

Judge Hannan at the time told Thomson there was "just no prospect" of her granting an order and suggested he consider converting some of the penalty into community service hours or face jail.

Today she asked Thomson how it was that he was now able to make the repayments within two years, given he had previously told the court he had no money available.

Thomson replied: "Through the help of family and friends".

During his last appearance in the Victorian County Court Thomson said his monthly income was $3000 but his mortgage repayments were $3300 and he had received a loan of $400,000 from his parents to help get by.

Thomson, 50, was convicted of 13 counts of theft following cash withdrawals he made from a bank account belonging to the Health Services Union between 2003 and 2007 when he was the union's national secretary.

He did not comment on the outcome outside of court today.