Police officially investigating Victorian MPs Telmo Languiller and Don Nardella after expenses scandal

VICTORIA’S former speaker and deputy speaker are under formal police investigation after it was alleged they had incorrectly claimed more than $130,000 in parliamentary allowances.

VICTORIA’S former speaker and deputy speaker are under formal police investigation after it was alleged they had incorrectly claimed more than $130,000 in parliamentary allowances.

MPs Telmo Languiller and Don Nardella were referred to the police in March after they claimed the secondary-residence allowance to live in seaside homes — more than 100km away from their western suburbs electorates.

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A parliamentary audit raised questions about whether either MP had permanently lived in the properties they nominated as “primary residences”.

A Victoria Police spokesman said both matters had progressed to formal investigation stage after three months of being assessed by detectives.

“Both matters that were referred to Victoria Police in March have been assessed and have now progressed to the investigation stage,” he said.

Don Nardella is under investigation by police after the case was assessed by detectives. Picture: Nicole Garmston

“As the investigations are ongoing, we will not be commenting further.”

The Victorian Opposition wrote to the police commissioner in March, asking them to investigate the two then Labor MPs.

Mr Languiller, the Tarneit MP, has repaid $37,800 he received from the allowance and admitted claiming it fell outside community expectations.

While his former speaker’s deputy, Melton MP Don Nardella, eventually agreed to a payment plan to repay $98,254 from taxpayers for living in the cabin, about 90km from his electorate.

It is believed Mr Languiller and Mr Nardella signed statutory declarations confirming they lived at the beachside properties to claim the allowance.

Shadow Attorney-General John Pesutto wrote to Police Commissioner Graham Ashton in March asking for a probe into whether Mr Languiller and Mr Nardella to be investigated.

MP Telmo Languiller repaid $37,800 but will still be under police investigation. Picture: Nicole Garmston

The letters called for police to investigate whether Mr Languiller made false statements on his electoral enrolment documents or if he ever lived in Queenscliff, and questioned whether Mr Nardella ever lived in Ocean Grove.

In April, the Herald Sun revealed the property Mr Nardella claimed as his primary residence was a cabin in the Ocean Grove Holiday Park, which had a “no residents” policy.

Managers said they had never seen the MP, who claimed $98,254 from taxpayers for living in the cabin, about 90km from his electorate.

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Mr Nardella told the Parliamentary Audit Committee he moved to the property after a relationship breakdown, striking an informal arrangement with family members to use the property for a fortnightly payment of $200.

The police probes comes a week after the Herald Sun revealed Mr Languiller had spent more than $15,000 of taxpayer funds flying his partner on lavish overseas trips.

Mr Languiller and Mr Nardella have been contacted for comment.