Matthew Guy to refer rorts-for-votes to DPP if he becomes premier

VICTORIA’S opposition leader will refer Premier Daniel Andrews to the Director of Public Prosecutions to answer questions about the rorts-for-votes scheme, if he becomes premier.

VICTORIA’S opposition leader will refer Premier Daniel Andrews to the Director of Public Prosecutions to answer questions about the rorts-for-votes scheme, if he becomes premier.

Matthew Guy said last night that if elected premier in November, he would “absolutely” refer the issue to the DPP after the Ombudsman found almost $388,000 was siphoned from taxpayer-funded budgets to be used on political campaigns.

Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy. Picture: AAP

LABOR MPS REJECTED LENDERS’ ‘DODGY’ RORTS-FOR-VOTES SCHEME

ANDREWS GOVERNMENT MPS IMPLICATED IN LABOR RORTS FOR VOTES SCANDAL

“There is no doubt about it that there is an element of this that constitutes fraud,” he told Sky News.

“There is monies that have not been declared to the Electoral Commission by the Labor Party.

“Labor’s repaid that money, well you only repay it if you’ve done it and that money still has not been declared to the Electoral Commission.”

It comes after 21 Victorian Labor MPs — including 11 still serving — breached parliamentary guidelines in the rort at the last election.

Ombudsman Deborah Glass released a report last month into her in investigation citing: “A well-organised campaign by the ALP to recruit and deploy full-time field organisers in the run-up to the 2014 Victorian state election, of which 21 were employed part-time as electorate officers and paid some $388,000 out of parliamentary funds.”

She said in a statement the MPs who took part and signed time sheets believed it was legitimate and were adding to the approved pooling arrangements in place.

The party has since repaid the money despite spending about $1 million to try to stop the investigation.

MPS DIDN’T WANT IN ON RORTS-FOR-VOTES SCHEME

ANOTHER Labor MP has admitted to rejecting a party request that parliamentary staff be hired to work as ALP campaigners before the 2014 state election.

The Herald Sun revealed on Tuesday that a number of MPs had resisted requests from former state treasurer John Lenders to join the scheme in 2014.

Another MP said yesterday “everyone was requested to be part of it, but we didn’t want to”.

“We were very apprehensive, we just weren’t comfortable,” the MP said.

The new development in the rorts-for-votes saga comes as Opposition Leader Matthew Guy faced Labor criticism over his decision to order Liberals to vote against a contentious fire services Bill, despite two MPs telling ALP they wouldn’t remain in parliament on Good Friday.

JEFF KENNETT: RORTS FRAUD WILL HAUNT THE LABOR PARTY

Mr Guy has brushed aside Labor attacks about breaching a “pairing” arrangement, saying on Tuesday he had no regrets because he was acting to protect volunteer firefighters.

Labor is now considering whether to try to have an Upper House committee probe the matter.

The Legislative Council Privileges Committee is already looking into Labor’s rorts-for-votes saga, after the Ombudsman found almost $388,000 was siphoned from taxpayer-funded budgets to be used on political campaigns.

Former state treasurer John Lenders. Picture: David Crosling

Another Labor MP who did not participate in the scheme said the request never reached their office. Mr Guy said the rorting and the reneging were very different matters.

During a tense press conference the Opposition leader fumbled questions about exactly when he told Bernie Finn and Craig Ondarchie they must return to parliament to vote against the Bill.

But he said he had no regrets and the Liberal leadership group was united behind his decision.

“The means were absolutely justified and I stand by it and I would do the same tomorrow,” he said.

Small Business Minister Philip Dalidakis, who was one of the ministers doublecrossed, said he would no longer seek a pair for the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur because “I no longer have faith that a pair would actually be honoured by them”.

LIBERAL LEADERSHIP UNREPENTANT ABOUT BREAKING PARLIAMENT PAIR

GOVERNMENT SEETHING WITH LIBERAL PARTY ‘CON TRICK’ ON FIRE REFORM

Small Business Minister Philip Dalidakis.

The Legislative Council had been sitting since the previous day, because the Andrews Government wanted to vote on its Bill during the absence of Australian Conservatives MP Rachel Carling-Jenkins.

Ms Carling-Jenkins had said publicly she opposed the Bill, but last week said she was too ill to come to parliament to vote against it. Premier Daniel Andrews said the Liberal Party couldn’t be trusted.

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