Geoff Shaw spared expulsion by ‘statesman-like’ Daniel Andrews

REBEL Victorian MP Geoff Shaw has embraced Labor head Daniel Andrews as a statesman after the ALP voted to keep him in parliament.

Independent MP Geoff Shaw, top, in Victoria’s parliament. Picture: Nicole Garmston

REBEL Victorian MP Geoff Shaw yesterday embraced Labor leader Daniel Andrews as a statesman after the ALP voted to keep the independent in parliament, clearing the way for the Coalition to cut all ties with the former Liberal.

In a gesture that will concern Labor, Mr Shaw declared Mr Andrews had shown “true statesmanship” by voting down a government contempt motion that would have expelled him from the parliament.

Mr Shaw also said Premier Denis Napthine was appearing like an opposition leader, in the first of what will likely be a relentless flow of anti-Coalition ­attacks between now and the ­November 29 election.

After years of placating Mr Shaw, the Coalition turned sharply on him with just two sitting weeks before the election, declaring him persona non grata and threatening to limit his ­access to briefings on legislation.

The failure to expel him means Mr Shaw is expected to cause continual unrest in the parliament and the government will struggle to retain control of its legislative agenda.

However, the upside will be that the government can distance itself from Mr Shaw and try to build a case that the independent is in Labor’s camp.

Coalition advertising is expected to reflect this dynamic.

Treasurer Michael O’Brien told the parliament that Mr Andrews and Mr Shaw were united.

“The Leader of the Opposition has become Geoff Shaw’s political bodyguard and he will own that,’’ Mr O’Brien said.

The expulsion motion was lost 42 votes to 43, with Labor and Mr Shaw voting against the ­government.

Labor’s position to oppose an expulsion reversed the stance it took less than three months ago. Conversely, the government only backed Mr Shaw’s suspension at that time.

The policy flip has been blamed on what the government alleged was Mr Shaw’s failure to apologise sincerely to the parliament for misusing his parliamentary car and petrol card for private business.

Mr Shaw told The Australian: “Denis Napthine’s looking like an opposition leader. And I must say I think Daniel Andrews showed true statesmanship-like qualities when he said he’s not going to be party to this ambush that Napthine is trying to do.

“I’m an independent ... with conservative views, but what we saw today and what we’ve seen over the time is political game-playing by supposedly the leader of the state, who’s not showing genuine leadership qualities.

“ He’s picking on one guy.’’