Whistleblower vindicated at last over Labor’s election rort

WHISTLEBLOWER Jake Finnigan has slammed Premier Daniel Andrews and ­revealed that he has suffered for two years after coming forward to authorities about the scam.

WHISTLEBLOWER Jake Finnigan has slammed Premier Daniel Andrews and ­revealed that he has suffered for two years after coming forward to authorities about the scam.

Speaking to the Herald Sun, the 24-year-old former field organiser said he was bullied and mistreated by Labor Party members after revealing the scam in late 2015.

“The rumours that were going round was that I was lying and doing it for my own profile. It was incredibly hurtful,” Mr Finnigan said.

He shot down Mr Andrews’ claims that MPs had not ­approached him concerned about the scam.

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Minister for Police Lisa Neville. Picture: Kylie Else

Former Victorian Treasurer John Lenders.

Mr Finnigan said that on the orders of Labor’s then Upper House leader John Lenders, he had met with Lara MP John Eren who was paying him during the election.

Mr Eren, now Sports Minister, was allegedly uneasy about paying the field organiser for working in his office, when Mr Finnigan was actually campaigning to get Lisa Neville, now Police Minister, re-elected in the marginal seat of Bellarine.

“I don’t buy it for a moment. The Premier knew what was going on; basically he is trying to weasel out of it,’’ Mr Finnigan said.

“No wonder public confidence in politicians and their opinions seems to be so low considering all the scandals and the rorts. How can the public be expected to take politics seriously?”

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Sports Minister John Eren. Picture: Sarah Matray

The Herald Sun did not name Mr Finnigan in 2015 when he first came forward, in order to protect his identity and mental welfare.

However, Mr Finnigan decided to go public to ensure Labor could not sweep the issue under the carpet.

He has since struggled to find a job and has given up on a career with the ALP in Victoria. Despite becoming an outcast from the party he loved, Mr Finnigan said he did not regret revealing the scam.

“I was brought up to do the right thing,” he told the Herald Sun on Wednesday.

“I wasn’t completing any electorate officer work, my role was purely a political party one,” he earlier told 3AW.

“It has caused me immense emotional turmoil,” he added.

“I lost a significant amount of friends. My career is ostensibly over ... I sincerely hope it will be for the greater good of this state.”

When Mr Andrews was given the opportunity to apologise to whistleblowers “who had their names dragged through the mud” on Wednesday the Premier denied being aware of the issue.

Mr Finnigan left the ALP in 2016.

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