New twist in red shirts scandal as Labor MPs defy police

LABOR MPs who used taxpayers’ money to part-pay for election campaign staff are refusing to co-operate with the police investigation into the rort.

LABOR MPs who used taxpayers’ money to part-pay for election campaign staff are refusing to co-operate with the police investigation into the rort.

The Herald Sun revealed last week that the fraud squad had started requesting interviews with MPs about the red shirts scheme that saw almost $388,000 siphoned from parliamentary budgets ahead of the 2014 state election.

A major investigation by the Victorian Ombudsman identified eleven sitting Labor MPs who were involved.

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When each were questioned yesterday afternoon by the Herald Sun about whether they were co-operating none responded, with Premier Daniel Andrews’ office instead issuing a blanket statement saying: “As this matter is ongoing, it’s not appropriate to comment.”

But a Labor figure last night confirmed that MPs and former members — acting on the advice of lawyers hired by the ALP — were refusing to co-operate with police.

“That’s the strategy, not to co-operate, and basically throw the challenge back to the cops,” the figure said.

“The Premier said publicly we would co-operate but that’s not happening.

“A number of MPs have been asked for interviews, and have been advised not to agree.

“The feeling, possibly the hope, is the police won’t call our bluff and arrest them.”

In July, Mr Andrews pledged that all Labor MPs, including himself, would provide evidence to police if asked.

“Everybody should co-operate and everybody will,” Mr Andrews said at the time.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, with Special Minister of State Gavin Jennings and Attorney-General Martin Pakula. Picture: Alex Coppel

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy last night said: “Daniel Andrews has spent millions of taxpayers’ dollars trying to cover up Labor’s rorts.

“Daniel Andrews and Labor tried to block the Ombudsman, then they went to the High Court and now they are trying to block the police from interviewing them.

“Daniel Andrews and his Labor MPs are rotten to the core and are going to this election covering up the truth from Victorians.”

It’s understood because MPs intended to make no-comment interviews under legal advice, there was no point in them attending appointments to be questioned by investigators.

Victoria Police fraud squad is running the case, which has split the force at senior levels.

It’s believed a brief of evidence will now be compiled and submitted by police to the Office of Public Prosecutors to review whether to lay charges.

It’s understood prominent defence lawyer Rob Stary, best known for defending Julian Assange and “Jihad Jack” Thomas, is representing several of the MPs.

It’s understood prominent defence lawyer Rob Stary is representing several of the MPs. Picture: Aaron Francis

MPs involved in the scheme include Special Minister of State Gavin Jennings, Attorney-General Martin Pakula, Youth Affairs Minister Jenny ­Mikakos, Corrections Minister Gayle Tierney, Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio and Sports Minister John Eren.

Backbenchers Marsha Thomson, Nazih Elasmar, Adem Somyurek, Anthony Carbines and Shaun Leane also dodged the Herald Sun’s questions yesterday.

The Ombudsman found the eleven Labor MPs who are still in Parliament rorted more than $144,000 between them.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said the investigation “remains ongoing and we’re unable to comment further”.

Mr Andrews also sidestepped questions last week about whether his MPs would co-operate with police.

He said it would be “completely inappropriate” for him to comment on the ongoing probe.

Ombudsman Deborah Glass concluded in March that the pay arrangement was an “artifice”, it was “wrong”, and police launched a formal investigation months later.

Labor paid back the money. But then in August, 17 former Labor campaign staff were arrested during dawn raids on their home before being interviewed by dozens of investigators.

Whistleblower Jake Finnigan, who worked in Police Minister Lisa Neville’s electorate office for a few days in 2014, while being paid by Sports Minister John Eren, said that he had been “forced to strip down naked” following his arrest.

“I don’t think it’s necessary, but the police are just operating under orders,” he said at the time.

Mr Guy last night said every minister under investigation should resign and not recontest their seats.

“How can Daniel Andrews and Labor expect Victorians to trust anything they say in this election?”

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