Public may get to see part of the probe into Labor MPs’ $388K rort

A PARLIAMENTARY probe into Labor’s rorts-for-votes scheme may include at least one public hearing as MPs consider who to call as witnesses.

A PARLIAMENTARY probe into Labor’s rorts-for-votes scheme may include at least one public hearing into the misuse of almost $400,000.

The Herald Sun understands the eight Legislative Council MPs on the powerful Privileges Committee are negotiating a plan to hold some open sessions, rather than have the entire process run behind closed doors.

Labor is understood to be willing to entertain limited public scrutiny, in a bid to defuse accusations they are hiding from further review.

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There is also a chance other MPs on the committee would overrule them if they voted against open sessions, with three Coalition MPs and independent chair James Purcell indicating prior to the first meeting they wanted more transparency.

Greens MP Nina Springle would then have the deciding vote on the eight-person ­committee.

Ombudsman Deborah Glass was spotted in state parliament this week, and is understood to have briefed MPs on the report she released in March. Her bombshell review found almost $388,000 was misused by 21 Labor MPs, who hired taxpayer-funded staff and deployed them to campaign for the ALP in marginal seats.

Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass. Picture: Alex Coppel

Ms Glass said in her report the scheme “crossed the line” and was devised to “maximise the use of resources available to the (Labor) Party for the 2014 campaign”.

The Herald Sun understands the Ombudsman told MPs there were gaps in her inquiry, particularly related to activities of Legislative Assembly MPs.

Labor MPs in the Legislative Assembly argued “exclusive cognisance” in the case, meaning that because the Upper House had referred the probe to the Ombudsman, Lower House MPs couldn’t be investigated.

The same argument will be applied by Labor in the Privileges Committee probe, which will look into 11 past and present MPs, who Ms Glass said broke the Members’ Guide.

LEGAL FIGURES CALL FOR MPS TO FACE PROBE OVER RORTS

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews with Special Minister of State Gavin Jennings. Picture: Alex Coppel

The committee will be able to call Legislative Council MPs, including Special Minister of State Gavin Jennings, Families Minister Jenny Mikakos and Corrections Minister Gayle Tierney.

The scheme’s architect, former Labor leader in the Upper House, John Lenders, is set to be called to explain his actions.

The committee is supposed to report back to parliament by August 23, leaving only two sitting weeks to consider any findings or penalties. If MPs recommend fines or suspensions as a result of the probe, this would have to be considered by the Legislative Council in the last two sitting weeks before the November election.

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