Rebel Victorian MP Geoff Shaw cleared of contempt

REBEL Victorian independent MP Geoff Shaw must repay a further $6,800 after wrongly using his government car for private business use.

SUNDAY HERALD SUN. One of VictoriaÕs most well-recognised politicians Geoff Shaw will be immortalised on canvas as part of this yearÕs Archibald Prize by Frankston artist Colin Sievers. The Archibald Prize is awarded annually to the best portrait of someone Òdistinguished in art, letters, science or politicsÓ. Picture: Tony Gough

REBEL Victorian independent MP Geoff Shaw has been ordered to repay a further $6,800 after wrongly using his government car for private business use.

But the Victorian Parliament has cleared him of contempt and a breach of privilege.

Parliament’s lower house privileges committee found Mr Shaw contravened the code of conduct for MPs but that his actions were not wilful.

The committee was investigating Mr Shaw over the misuse of his car and taxpayer-funded fuel card.

Mr Shaw has already paid back $1250 to parliament.

The committee recommended the establishment of an independent parliamentary commissioner for standards.

The committee was dominated by the Coalition and Labor MPs backed a contempt finding which was lost on the numbers.

Mr Shaw holds the balance of power in the Victorian Parliament.

Dishonesty charges relating to the allegations against the MP were dropped in December, after prosecutors decided there was not a reasonable prospect of criminal conviction in the matter.