Key Labor rorts-for-votes scheme players given coveted government jobs

KEY players in Labor’s rorts-for-votes election scheme have been parachuted into coveted government jobs, including in the Premier’s own office.

Labor's Dan Andrews celebrates his Victorian State Election victory at the Mulgrave Country Club. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

KEY players in Labor’s rorts-for-votes election scheme have been parachuted into coveted government jobs, including in the Premier’s own office.

The Herald Sun has learned several field organisers from the “red shirts” campaign army — now being probed by the Victorian Ombudsman — are now senior ministerial advisers.

Others won plum jobs in new public sector agencies or in the Premier’s office.

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An ALP source told the Herald Sun “a lot of people have been looked after, above and beyond their talent … Senior public servants’ roles, ministerial advisers. Pretty much all of them have no experience, but they have all moved on to bigger and better things.”

A Labor MP said the air must be cleared, and that rather than keeping people silent by giving them jobs it would be easier just to repay parliament.

“It doesn’t pass the pub test. We need to concentrate on winning the election and not keep focusing on distractions.”

Deborah Glass Victorian Ombudsman looking into rorts-for-votes scheme. Picture: Norm Oorloff

Victorian Opposition leader Matthew Guy. Picture Joe Castro

Ombudsman Deborah Glass is interviewing participants in the scheme, which involved MPs “giving up” taxpayer-funded staff for marginal seat campaigns in 2014.

Several MPs and Labor whistleblowers confirmed that electorate officers, partly paid for by State Parliament, were used to co-ordinate volunteers doorknocking for the ALP. Some of them never met the MPs they were employed by.

Premier Daniel Andrews, who has defended the “pooling arrangement”, said last month he was yet to be interviewed.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said Mr Andrews and his team were addicted to rorting taxpayer funds.

“Victorians can now see why Daniel Andrews has spent two years trying to cover up this Labor rort. The total cost could be millions,’’ he said.

“Red shirt” co-ordinators have also been given jobs in the state ALP, which is understood to be causing friction.

“A lot of people in the ALP head office are not happy, which is not good going into an election,’’ the Herald Sun was told.

Government spokesman Chris Piper said on Wednesday night: “Unlike the Liberals, all appointments by this government are made on merit.”

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