Victorian Labor MP Khalil Eideh unlikely to contest seat at next state election

EMBATTLED Labor MP Khalil Eideh, who was swept up in the ‘cash for stacks’ printing scandal, is unlikely to recontest his seat in the next Victorian state election.

Victorian MP Khalil Eideh could be considering his options outside of Victorian parliament. Picture: Wayne Taylor, AAP

• Cash stack claims probed
• Second printer in rort claims probe
• Printing firm brings late Labor MP into scandal

AN embattled Labor MP swept up in the ‘cash for stacks’ printing scandal is unlikely to recontest his seat in the next state election.

Member for Western Metropolitan, Khalil Eideh, flagged he could be considering his options outside of the Victorian parliament on Sunday, when he declined to confirm if he would run in November 2018.

Party insiders have said the upper house deputy president was likely to vacate his seat, however Mr Eideh could not be contacted to confirm his plans as of Sunday night.

The suggestion the Legislative Council member will give up his seat comes after the Herald Sun revealed allegations from ALP whistleblowers that taxpayer funded printing budgets were being rorted to funnel money to pay for party memberships.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy outed Mr Eideh in parliament as having links to the alleged scam last week.

Victorian MP Khalil Eideh looks unlikely to recontest his seat at the next state election. Picture: Wayne Taylor, AAP Image.

Mr Eideh has denied all knowledge of a potential rorting scheme.

It is understood factional powerbrokers have been considering a new candidate for the safe seat for several months.

If the veteran Labor MP, who was elected in 2006, stands aside it will ignite a brutal preselection battle for the safe upper house seat.

The latest revelations come after Mr Eideh opened his office to be probed by the Victorian Parliament on Friday.

Parliament is investigating claims from Labor whistleblowers, that hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars have been siphoned from Members’ printing budgets to pay for party memberships.

Mr Eideh was a relatively unknown member of the Victorian Parliament until he was blocked from the US when travelling on official business as part of a parliamentary inquiry in August.

The Lebanese born MP came under fire after the American debacle when it was revealed he lied about making several personal trips to Syria to see family members.

ALP members have become increasingly concerned of Mr Eideh running again since his name made headlines earlier this year.