Police quiz Labor rort architects but no charges yet

Detectives have interviewed the two key players in Labor’s controversial “red shirts” rort but a year after the investigation began there is still no decision on whether to lay charges.

Fraud squad detectives have interviewed the two key players in Labor’s controversial “red shirts” rort.

But Victoria Police is still deciding whether to lay ­charges over the use of taxpayer-funded staff in political campaigning — first exposed by the Herald Sun in 2015 — more than a year after the force started its investigation.

The constant delays have surprised some politicians, sparking claims of political ­interference and even suggestions of a ­“resourcing crisis” facing the Office of Public Prosecutions.

Police launched the probe in July last year, and since ­February it has been focused on two individuals — understood to be former Labor treasurer John Lenders and his 2014 ­adviser Jadon Mintern.

Former Labor treasurer John Lenders. Picture: David Crosling

Mr Lenders was the architect of the rort which saw more than $388,000 of taxpayers’ money used by Labor to part-pay political campaign staff during the 2014 state election.

Neither Mr Lenders nor Mr Mintern were able to be ­contacted yesterday.

Police are now waiting for advice from the Office of Public Prosecutions after handing over briefs of evidence at the start of July. A Victoria Police spokeswoman said: “This has been a complex investigation and we understand there is strong public interest in the outcome, so it is important that we get it right.”

Shadow Attorney-General Edward O’Donohue told parliament this week that the OPP was facing a “clear ­resourcing crisis that is ­preventing the timely consideration of matters”.

“This example is no doubt just the tip of the iceberg and reflects the challenges that the OPP has in processing matters and requests for advice,” he said. “It’s no wonder our justice system can take years and years before justice is served. As the old saying goes, justice delayed is justice denied.”

Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton with Premier Daniel Andrews. Picture: AFP

Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton announced in February that the Labor MPs involved in the scandal would not face charges, and that ­detectives expected to finalise the probe within “a month or two months at the most”.

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He said charges of making false documents and obtaining property or financial advantage by deception were “still on the table”, along with other fraud offences.

Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said in May that officers were “telling me at this stage they’re working to the end of June”.

In June, he said the probe was “in its concluding stages”. “It seems to go on a long time,” Mr Ashton said, adding it was not a “black and white” case.

@tminear