Rorts-for-votes probe: Labor’s red shirt campaigners slam police
LABOR’S red shirt campaigners have accused Victoria Police of being “heavy-handed” in dawn raids that rocked the state government.
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LABOR’S red shirt campaigners have slammed police for being “heavy-handed” in dawn raids that rocked the government this week.
In the second day of attacks on police, Victorian Labor Party assistant state secretary Stephen Donnelly wrote to Labor’s Community Action Network to criticise the arrest of ex-campaign staff.
He said the network — the “red shirt” volunteer army that door knocks on behalf of Labor — would not “stop campaigning” ahead of November’s state election.
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“We will not stop organising,” Mr Donnelly said.
“And we will not be distracted from our true purpose: fighting for a fairer Victoria.”
Mr Donnelly helped set up the CAN, which in 2014 recruited dozens of field organisers who would oversee thousands of volunteers on the election campaign trail.
Those field organisers were paid two days a week by state parliament to work for MPs as electorate officers — a rort the Ombudsman found had cost taxpayers about $388,000.
Mr Donnelly’s comments follow heavy criticism yesterday from Victorian Labor Party state secretary Samuel Rae, who labelled the raids “completely unnecessary”.
Anger within the government over the treatment of those involved in the rorts-for-votes scheme continues to simmer, as MPs fear where the probe may lead.
But Premier Daniel Andrews staunchly refused to comment.
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He instead referred the media to Mr Rae’s statement but would not say whether he supported its contents and criticism.
“I agree and support the notion of him (Mr Rae) being able to put a statement out like that,” Mr Andrews told media at a press event to open the West Gate Tunnel Project’s new information centre.
“But I’m not going to be drawn to become a commentator on his commentary.
“It’s not appropriate for me to be a commentator on these matters.”
Mr Andrews also batted away criticism the government had gone to ground with some senior ministers cancelling events in the wake of arrests.
Deputy Premier James Merlino, Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford and Employment Minister Ben Carroll were among the no-shows at events on Thursday.
Mr Andrews also skipped the opening night of the Melbourne International Film Festival. He said his office had not directed ministers to cancel events.
“I’m not here to comment on diaries, events get rescheduled all the time,” Mr Andrews said.
It comes as Department of Parliamentary Services secretary Peter Lochert prepares to give evidence at the Legislative Council Privileges Committee’s inquiry on Monday.
It is expected Mr Lochert will be quizzed on the advice he gave Labor on hiring ALP staff as casual office workers ahead of the 2014 election.
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