Premier Daniel Andrews ends second residence allowance

DISGRACED Melton MP Don Nardella will be forced to repay the almost $100,000 he claimed for living in an Ocean Grove cabin.

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DISGRACED Melton MP Don Nardella will be forced to repay the almost $100,000 he claimed for living in an Ocean Grove cabin.

The Andrews government’s former deputy Speaker has been given an ultimatum to repay the money before sweeping changes to the entitlements system are introduced to parliament, or be forced to do so.

It follows intense pressure on the Premier to recoup the money.

The parliament will be given new powers to force rorting MPs to repay money, while an independent tribunal will now set politicians’ pay and ­entitlements.

The second residence entitle­ment, used by Mr Nardella to pocket $174,836 for living in Ballarat and Ocean Grove, will now be available only for MPs in regional electorates outside the 80km radius of Melbourne.

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Premier Daniel Andrews announced changes to the state parliament’s entitlements system. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

Special Minister for State Gavin Jennings. Picture: Mark Wilson

It will be rebranded the “parliamentary sitting accommodation allowance”.

Mr Andrews said the parliament would either use the new laws to force the Melton MP to repay the money, or pass a motion under the existing laws.

“Be in no doubt — if he has not done the right thing, by the time these Bills are in the parliament, just in a few weeks time, then the parliament will take the matter out of his hands,” Mr Andrews said.

“Hopefully, upon learning that, and seeing these changes, he will have a good think about this, do the right thing, and pay the money back himself.”

The overhaul of entitlements comes after former Speaker Telmo Languiller and his deputy were forced to resign for claiming the allowance despite representing Melbourne electorates. This included Mr Nardella pocketing $98,254 for claiming to live in an Ocean Grove caravan park with a “no residents” policy, which he has refused to repay.

As part of the changes, new laws will immediately be introduced to give parliament the power to recover money when an MP has rorted the system, and they will be fined a penalty of 25 per cent for refusing to co-operate.

Former deputy Speaker Don Nardella. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Former Speaker Telmo Languiller. Picture: Tim Carrafa

OTHER CHANGES INCLUDE:

— THE commercial vehicle travel allowance, which is currently available for MPs in large regional electorates for a range of private transport options for travel on electorate business, to be restricted to air travel only;

— MPs no longer being able to rollover the “electorate office and communications budget”, which includes a $10,000 allocation for interstate and overseas travel for official business, to the next financial year, while spouse travel will no longer be funded; and

— POLITICIANS’ allowances published online quarterly to “ensure full transparency”.

An independent remuneration tribunal will be established to set salaries and allowances for MPs, public service executives and other ­office holders.

The clerk of the parliament and the Department of Parliamentary Services will also be given extra powers to force MPs to repay money.

Most of the changes were recommended by a report into the parliament’s entitlements system, completed by the Parliamentary Audit Committee and handed to the government last week.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said the Premier needed to immediately kick Mr Nardella out of parliament

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