Page 13: Matthew Guy’s former chief of staff Mitch Catlin cleared in IBAC probe into Liberal Party donation scandal

Matthew Guy’s former chief of staff, Mitch Catlin, has been cleared by an IBAC probe into a Liberal Party donation scandal that rocked the 2022 election. So are the Libs about to be hit with another lawsuit?

It was the biggest Spring Street scandal leading into the 2022 state election.

Then chief of staff to Matthew Guy, Mitch Catlin, was forced to take a political hit and quit over a much talked about deal created by his political colleagues and employers to top up his salary from private businessman Jonathan Munz.

A referral from the Victorian Electoral Commission, forced to defend their controversial decision at parliamentary hearings and pressure from the then Andrews Labor government, saw the issue referred to IBAC more than two years ago.

Not known for being a shrinking violet, Catlin has since maintained the age-old adage of “a dignified silence” while cameras and media — which he once had a hand in orchestrating himself — camped outside his house at the height of the controversy.

Much to the Liberal Party’s chagrin, we hear all that could change.

Former Liberal Leader Matthew Guy, Mitch Catlin and Deputy Liberal Leader David Southwick. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Catlin, loved or loathed and not afraid to share his opinions of the then Daniel Andrews government during the pandemic on social media, is certainly known for speaking his mind.

So surely he can only stay speechless for so long.

Page 13 has learned that just days before Christmas (always a good time to bury a story to avoid scrutiny) IBAC found no adverse findings against Catlin and he was exonerated as part of a covert investigation known as Operation HADAD.

Senior Liberals confirmed to Page 13 that everyone knew it was a political hit job on Catlin, who was the fall guy for the other guy – Matthew Guy – over a bitter falling out the former leader had with disgraced MP Tim Smith.

Smith was forced to quit by his colleagues after he famously crashed his car into a child’s bedroom while drunk.

In another head scratcher move, Smith is reportedly planning a potential political comeback despite throwing non-stop bombs at the Liberals.

Mitch Catlin has said he is “more than happy to speak at the right time”. Picture: Supplied

Catlin, who was a corporate mover and shaker in Melbourne namely at Myer and Swisse prior to his ill-fated move into politics, was labelled everything from corrupt and dodgy with his private health and medical information leaked and printed in the media.

We all know politics is a nasty business but this was next level for someone who wasn’t even a politician.

Unlike the hoo-ha at the time of the story, this low-key acquittal of Catlin has a number of high-profile silks telling Page 13 they are salivating at the prospect of the scandal being back in the public sphere if the dogged Catlin decided to head down that costly path.

Former Liberal leader Matthew Guy. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

It’s believed that he is spending most of his time in Sydney working with a new hospitality group.

While he wasn’t exactly forthcoming when contacted by Page 13, he did leave the door open: “I have nothing to say right now, but I will be more than happy to speak at the right time,” he said.

There will likely be many tightened sphincters about how the next steps play out, especially with the Federal Liberals focusing on Victoria as the prime state to get Peter Dutton the keys to the lodge, not to mention Brad Battin’s liberals becoming the clear favourite at next year’s state election.

We’ve said it before and we will say it again…. Watch this space.

Originally published as Page 13: Matthew Guy’s former chief of staff Mitch Catlin cleared in IBAC probe into Liberal Party donation scandal