Vic AG denies knowledge of ‘red shirts’ arrests bombshell

Victoria’s Attorney-General has dodged questions over bombshell reports police were blocked from arresting Labor MPs over the $388,000 “red shirts” rort.

Victorian Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes has refused to comment on bombshell reports that Victoria Police were prevented from arresting Labor MPs over the “red shirts” scandal.

It follows revelations that detectives in the force’s fraud squad had urged police to consider arresting and prosecuting up to 16 politicians over the scam, which was exposed by the Herald Sun.

The Labor Party rorted $388,000 by using taxpayer-funded electorate officers to campaign ahead of the 2014 election.

It comes as top cop Shane Patton on Thursday confirmed he had requested an assessment of recent IBAC hearings to determine whether any action needed to be taken to reinvestigate the rorts.

Ms Symes on Friday brushed off repeated questions about claims police were prevented from arresting MPs.

“This is an operational matter that I have no knowledge of or no interaction with,” she said.

“I think that operational decisions with police, how they conduct investigations and how they instruct people within the police force is a matter for Victoria Police.”

Opposition police spokesman Brad Battin said Victorians deserved the truth about what appeared to be a form of “special treatment”.

In November 2018, former chief commissioner Graham Ashton denied there was any direction given not to arrest members of parliament.

“No, certainly not, not that I’m aware of. I certainly didn’t issue any directions, I’m not aware of any,” he told media at the time.

Mr Battin said Victoria Police “must immediately clarify why Labor MPs were let off the hook and given preferential treatment.”

“When a police commissioner says one thing but police documents say another, it’s clear Victorians are being kept in the dark,” he added.

When asked if she’d co-operate with officers in any future investigation, Ms Symes said: “I’ve never been asked to co-operate with a police investigation, but I’m pretty sure if asked to do so I would.”

She added: “This is very much a hypothetical. I haven’t personally been asked to give any evidence in any police matter. As Attorney-General I would always encourage people to seek legal advice when you are interacting with the law.

“If Victoria Police had any reason to question me then that’s something that I would consider on its merits.”