The investigation into the ‘red shirts’ rort will not be reopened, Victoria Police confirm

There has been another twist in Labor’s ‘red shirts’ scandal following calls for Victoria Police to reopen the investigation.

Victoria Police has confirmed it will not reopen an investigation into the Andrews government’s red shirts elections rort.

The scheme saw almost $388,000 in taxpayers’ money spent on part-paying electorate staff to campaign for the 2014 election.

Almost two dozen MPs, including several ministers, were embroiled in the scandal that misused taxpayer dollars to pay for political campaigning.

Victoria Police launched a subsequent investigation but no charges were laid.

The state opposition had lobbied for the investigation to be reopened following evidence given to the state’s anti-corruption watchdog by former minister Adem Somyurek.

Among a range of explosive allegations Mr Somyurek testified that Daniel Andrews said “do you want to win an election or not?” when concerns were first raised about the red shirts scandal.

Adem Somyurek’s evidence prompted calls for the ‘red shirts’ investigation to be reopened. Picture: Ian Currie

A Victoria Police spokesperson said no new information has been identified to warrant reopening the investigation.

“The key complainant declined the opportunity to speak to police or provide evidence and no new relevant information has been provided by IBAC to date,” she said.

“Without any new evidence being presented, Victoria Police will not be reopening the investigation.”

In a damning report Ombudsman Deborah Glass concluded that the rort was an “artifice”, it was “wrong”, but did not recommend charges or further action.

Premier Daniel Andrews with Labor Party supporters wearing red shirts. Picture: AAP

Mr Somyurek has argued Ms Glass’s investigation was insufficient because she didn’t have coercive powers meaning MPs didn’t have to cooperate with the probe.

He successfully moved a motion in parliament to have the matter referred back to the Ombudsman.

“We (Labor MPs collectively) acted corruptly, and then we did not cooperate with the Ombudsman’s inquiry and the various police investigations because the Labor Party lawyers told us not to,” he said in a leaked email to MPs.

“There is a reason why red shirts does not go away and that is because it was wrong, and we knew it.

“The party leadership was too desperate to win, and had lost all perspective.”

The Herald Sun understands Ms Glass is also unlikely to reinvestigate the rort because she has also not received any new evidence.

However she has said she will launch an investigation into the state’s public service amid allegations it has been purposely stacked with government cronies.

She has also renewed calls for a new independent body to be set up to investigate allegations of wrongdoing against MPs saying the current framework is insufficient.

Opposition police spokesman Brad Battin, who had requested the new investigation, lashed out at the decision.

“The Red Shirts investigation has been continually hamstrung by Daniel Andrews blatant refusal to cooperate with Victoria Police,” he said.

“This Government is happy to fine people sitting on park benches during lockdown yet thinks it can steal $400,000 without consequence.

“Time and again, Labor thumbs its nose at Victorians and continues to act like the rules don’t apply to them.

“Whether its red shirts or illegal ads, the only way to stop Labor treating people’s money like an ATM is by changing the Government in November.”

Originally published as The investigation into the ‘red shirts’ rort will not be reopened, Victoria Police confirm