Labor MPs to face vote rort queries from police as cost of probes, legal appeals exceeds $1.3m

STATE Labor MPs, including six ministers, embroiled in their party’s 2014 campaign rort will be interviewed by police, with sources saying charges related to the systemic scam are a real possibility.

STATE Labor MPs, including six ministers, embroiled in their party’s 2014 campaign rort will be interviewed by police — but possibly not before November’s state election.

Police sources say charges related to the systemic scam are a real possibility, though it is too early to say whether any serving MPs will face penalties.

Despite suggestions they could be sent questionnaires, it’s understood no decision has been made on that yet. It comes as the cost of investigations and legal appeals from the saga exceeds $1.3 million.

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Premier Daniel Andrews on the day the Ombudsman’s report was released. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Police Minister Lisa Neville this morning said she didn’t know whether MPs involved in the red shirts rorts scandal would be taken in for questioning or sent questionnaires.

She said she had “no knowledge” of the investigation apart from information published in today’s Herald Sun.

Asked whether questionnaires were routinely used to interview people in fraud investigations, Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said: “The investigation will be conducted in the same manner and according to the same guidelines as any other investigation is conducted.”

“If we have suspects in an investigation, we interview them.”

In the rort, first revealed by the Herald Sun, 21 MPs used their parliamentary budgets to pay for staff who campaigned for the ALP in marginal seats.

Ombudsman Deborah Glass said it was an “artifice” designed to boost campaign coffers. It cost almost $388,000 — which the ALP has repaid

The fraud and extortion squad is now investigating.

Sources say the matter is being treated seriously and MPs are expected to be invited to submit to questioning.

They could include Special Minister of State Gavin Jennings, Attorney-General Martin Pakula and Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio.

In August, 17 former staff, hired as full-time ALP campaigners but told they would be part-paid by parliament, were questioned about the offence of making a false document, about their application to the ALP, and any correspondence during recruitment.

Detectives were told a senior ALP figure had instructed them that though recruited as party operatives they would be working as electorate officers. Detectives have also given some ex-campaigners a booklet on being a victim of crime.

A source told the Herald Sun it was likely charges would be laid at some point, but there was almost no possibility of this before the election.

One source said MPs would likely be treated differently from the staff, who were subjected to dawn raids at their homes in August.

“I’m looking forward to (former MP) John Lenders and (Police Minister) Lisa Neville getting a knock on the door at 5am,” one source said. “I have a feeling that won’t be the case.”

More than 30 investigators were involved in the August arrests and interviews, and will compile a brief of evidence.

Police were criticised over their fruitless initial inquiry, before an Ombudsman’s report detailed suspect timesheets and employment forms.

In her annual report on Wednesday the Ombudsman revealed her investigation cost $878,855 — $133,993 in external legal fees and $744,862 in investigation costs, including staff and “enhanced security”. The government also spent $139,001 on court challenges to try to block the investigation, while the Legislative Council coughed up $331,817 in legal fees.

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MORE ON THE RED SHIRTS SCANDAL:

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PREMIER SORRY FOR $388K ELECTION CHEAT