Premier says he will co-operate but insists rorts ministers can work during inquiry

PREMIER Daniel Andrews says he will ­provide evidence to a police investigation into Labor’s rorts-for-votes scheme if he is asked, while 21 Labor MPs implicated in scheme consider seeking legal assistance.

PREMIER Daniel Andrews will ­provide evidence to a police investigation into Labor’s rorts-for-votes scheme if he is asked.

State MPs involved in the scheme are now contemplating legal assistance, as fraud and extortion squad ­detectives begin their investigation.

An Ombudsman’s report said 21 Labor MPs, including six ministers, were involved in the misuse of $388,000 in taxpayers’ money.

VICTORIA POLICE PROBE RORTS-FOR-VOTES SCHEME

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LABOR MPS BRIEFED ON PARTY’S SCHEME

The ministers are facing calls to step down during the probe.

All hired electorate office staff in 2014 who, against parliamentary rules, campaigned for Labor in ­marginal seats in that year’s election.

Signed timesheets for work not done, and Ombudsman Deborah Glass’s interviews with scheme participants, are likely to be assessed as part of the investigation. Parliament may be asked to provide further documentation and witness statements.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is comfortable with his ministers staying in parliament. Picture: Chloe Smith.

But some MPs say because the police do not have the powers of the Ombudsman, they cannot compel MPs to submit to interviews as she did. This means senior ministers could refuse to participate.

But Mr Andrews declared on Saturday he would give evidence if ­required, and so should others.

“Everyone should co-operate and everyone will,” he said.

When asked if that included him, he answered: “Yes.”

The decision by police to mount an official investigation, revealed by the Herald Sun on Friday, has rocked the Andrews Government,

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said the Premier had stood aside his former minister Adem Somyurek when the latter was under investigation (in 2015) claiming then it was the “right thing to do” to maintain integrity. “Where is that integrity today?” Mr Guy said.

“There is no integrity from this Premier, a Premier who thinks he can ride out a third of his ministers being under investigation.

Ombudsman Deborah Glass has conducted interviews.

“This government … is falling apart under the weight of its own corrupt, crooked and rorting behaviour.”

Mr Andrews is standing by the six ministers who participated in the funding rort, including Attorney-General Martin Pakula and Special Minister of State Gavin Jennings, saying they would be able to keep doing their jobs despite the probe.

“I would also say that the Department of Justice has received an assurance from Victoria Police that the work of Victoria Police is well and truly at arm’s length from ministers, ministers’ offices and the department itself,” he said.

The ALP is likely to provide lawyers to help the party’s MPs, rather than the government.

Mr Andrews would not be drawn yesterday on how the probe would ­affect his re-election chances, but said voters should look at his government’s achievements.

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