Labor rorts: MPs not sorry after probe finds they scammed $388k from Victorian taxpayers

TWO days after Premier Daniel Andrews apologised to taxpayers for ripping them off, Labor MPs have claimed the saga is no big deal and they are not sorry.

TWO days after Premier Daniel Andrews apologised to taxpayers for ripping them off, Labor MPs have claimed the saga is no big deal and they are not sorry.

One MP said the Victorian Ombudsman’s probe and the resulting media coverage “was a beat-up”, while another said “it won’t matter”, because people will vote for them in the Nov­ember election anyway.

ANDREWS GOVERNMENT MPS IMPLICATED IN LABOR RORTS FOR VOTES SCANDAL

MATT JOHNSTON: VICTORIAN OMBUDSMAN IS COMING FOR THE ALP WITH RELEASE OF GLASS REPORT

In an extraordinary social media post, Upper House MP Shaun Leane even boasted about his use of taxpayer funds to help get Labor elected.

“I do appreciate the report did state that I and a number of other Labor MP, s (sic) accused of breaching the members hand book we had no ill intent or did nothing for personal gain,” he wrote.

“What I am basically accu­sed of is someone working in my office (me being a politician) was campaigning (acting political).

“Yep. If that’s the charge Well I have to state openly I’m proud to say people in my off­ice have helped me campaign ...”

Upper House labor MP Shaun Leane at the site of the new stop. Picture: Richard Serong

Mr Andrews gave a begrud­ging apology this week saying “I am sorry this has occurred”, but refused to sanction anyone implicated in the scandal.

The lack of repercussions has buoyed some on the backbench, despite 21 Labor MPs — including 14 present members — being implicated for authorising time sheets falsely in breach of the Members Guide.

Mr Andrews issued another apology yesterday during a visit to Wangaratta Hospital.

“I have made it very clear that I wished things had happened differently and I apologise that they did not,’’ he said. “That apology I think stands for every single member of my team.”

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews faces the media in reaction to Labor Rorts Report, with Special Minister of State Gavin Jennings and Attorney-General Martin Pakula by his side. Picture: Alex Coppel.

But Brunswick MP Jane Garrett told ABC774 Mornings, “We have obviously got a lot of work to do to rebuild trust with the Victorian people.”

Some MPs quietly acknowledge the saga has dented reputations, including ministers.

This includes Attorney-General Martin Pakula, who authorised $5354 to an election campaigner and signed off on costly legal battles against the Ombudsman’s probe.

Sports Minister John Eren was outed as the MP who paid field organiser Jake Finnigan, who had revealed details of the scheme previously.

Labor sources said Mr Eren was instrumental in getting other members over the line to participate in the scheme in 2014 — with his involvement seen as a green light.

Labor supporters have also contacted the Herald Sun with photographs from social media of Deputy Leader James Merlino meeting the red shirts.

PARTY CONSIDERS ANDREWS REPLACEMENTS

LABOR MPs have started to quietly canvass who would replace Daniel Andrews as leader if the rorts-for-votes scandal continues to grow.

While there is no suggestion Mr Andrews is in imminent danger of being toppled, chatter has started about other options.

Senior Labor sources have said the most likely person to take the mantle would be Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews speaks to the media following the release of Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass' report. Picture: Alex Murray

Ms Allan, who is the manager of government business in the Legislative Assembly, hails from the Premier’s faction — which recently split.

But some MPs say the Right wing of the party would be unlikely to unite around another Socialist Left colleague as leader.

If this was the case, the two most likely MPs to be called upon would be Treasurer Tim Pallas
or Police Minister Lisa Neville.

While Mr Andrews is still seen as safe at this time, talk has started because of the fallout from the Victorian Ombudsman’s report into election campaign funding.

Attorney-General Martin Pakula had been viewed as an alternative candidate to Mr Andrews, but has been tied to the rorts scandal through a series of court battles aimed at stopping the probe.

Mr Pakula and Mr Andrews say the court action reinforced the power of the Ombudsman to investigate based on parliamentary referrals, but others say the two appeals against a Supreme Court decision show the government was not acting on principle.

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