Telmo Languiller supporters say Premier threw Speaker under the bus

UPDATE: STATE MPs would have to provide proof they live at the addresses for which they are claiming taxpayer-funded perks under a shake-up of entitlements.

• Speaker Telmo Languiller sensationally quits

STATE MPs would have to provide proof they live at the addresses for which they are claiming taxpayer-funded perks under a shake-up of entitlements.

And the generous “second residence” allowance would be limited to MPs who genuinely hold regional seats, and who can justify their claims.

State Cabinet has approved the first steps towards tightening entitlements after what Premier Daniel Andrews called “appalling behaviour” by two of his own MPs.

It is understood that the “honesty system” that has guided the use of MP allowances will end.

Proof of living arrangements — such as evidence of mortgages, rent, or bill payments — are likely to be needed in future to claim generous taxpayer perks such as the second residence allowance which is worth up to $37,678 for senior office holders.

Former Speaker Telmo Languiller. Picture: Tim Carrafa

The government will also consider introducing a new independent adviser to parliament who checks on the veracity of MPs’ claims, including for travel, perks, and car expenses.

The shake-up comes as supporters of Telmo Languiller were angered by reports he was forced to resign by Mr Andrews, saying he had decided to step down as Speaker before intervention by the Premier.

Mr Languiller quit after he was unable to convince colleagues he was entitled to claim an allowance worth almost $40,000 for living in a “second residence” outside of his own western suburbs electorate.

Deputy Speaker Don Nardella also resigned after claiming the allowance for almost three years while living in Ocean Grove rather than his electorate of Melton.

MORE: Don Nardella admits to claiming $100k in ‘second residence’ allowance

Mr Andrews yesterday pledged to clean up the entitlements system in Victoria so that the murky rules and “appalling” use of taxpayer money by some of Labor’s MPs would never happen again.

He said at the time he had a conversation with the pair and “I made it clear to them that their positions were untenable”.

But one source close to Mr Languiller said the Speaker had decided to resign, and that the Premier “literally threw him under the bus” with his tough talk yesterday.

Former Deputy Speaker Don Nardella. Picture: Jay Town

Another source said the Premier had originally been of the view that Mr Languiller may not have to leave his position, but that had changed over time.

A source close to the Premier said that he had conveyed the message on Saturday that the positions Mr Languiller and Mr Nardella held had become “untenable”.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said he was calling for the second residence allowance to be eligible to only country MPs.

“That would mean that this system cannot be abused by any city MPs, and it only applies, as it should have been, to regional MPs,” Mr Guy said.

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Mr Guy said the ballot paper for lower house seats should also list where the candidates lived.

“It is a requirement of the parliamentary Liberal Party, and the National Party, that members reside in their seat, and that’s because we believe our members of parliament should represent the seat in every way,” he said.

“It is not good enough to live 70km away and claim that you are being good local MPs — that is just utterly contemptuous.”

Mr Guy said the Opposition would seek “in every way possible” to force Mr Nardella to pay back the more than $100,000 he claimed for the allowance.

“This money should be repaid fully and if Daniel Andrews doesn’t require it to be repaid then he stands condemned, he stands complicit in the rorting of Don Nardella and Telmo Languiller,” Mr Guy said.

@Media_Matt