Labor Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas brands circumstances of how Sam Groth started relationship with wife inappropriate

A defiant Sam Groth has slammed Labor for lashing his character regarding the timing of the start of the relationship with his now wife as he hit back at the “grubby assertions”.

A defiant Sam Groth has slammed Labor for lashing his character regarding the timing of the start of the relationship with his now wife.

The deputy opposition leader defended himself, saying: “My wife and I reject the grubby assertions that have been made about the commencement of our relationship.

“The slurs made today by members of the Labor Government pose questions about their character, not ours.”

Earlier, Labor Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said it was inappropriate for Mr Groth to have started the relationship when he was a tennis coach and his now wife Brittany was under 18.

“If you’re asking me whether I think it’s appropriate for a person that is in a position of influence or authority, like a teacher or coach, to be dating a teenager, then the answer to that is no,” Ms Thomas said.

“It’s evidence that the Liberals remain at war with one another, and quite clearly, if you can’t govern yourselves, then you can’t govern the state”.

The broadside came as Mr Groth declared family should be “off limits” and a key supporter called for “heads on sticks” after Liberal Party colleagues expressed fears the circumstances under which Mr Groth started his relationship could constitute a criminal offence and be weaponised in the election campaign.

Mary-Anne Thomas branded as inappropriate the circumstances in which Sam Groth started dating his now wife. Picture: Nadir Kinani

Liberal colleagues of Mr Groth have raised questions about how the deputy leader began his relationship with wife Brittany.

Both Mr Groth and Brittany have admitted they got together when he was coaching at Templestowe Park tennis club in 2011, while he was on a break from the professional circuit.

At the time, he would have been 23 or 24 and she would have been 16 or 17 – as she did not turn 18 until April 2012.

Under Victorian law, it is a criminal offence to engage in a sexual relationship with someone under the age of 18 if they are under your care or supervision.

Premier Jacinta Allan said family should be off limits, adding it was ultimately a matter for the Liberal Party.

“Families shouldn’t be dragged into politics,” she said.

“This is a matter for the Liberal leader Brad Battin and his deputy leader Sam Groth to respond to because it has come about as a consequence of bitter internal division within the Victorian Liberal Party.”

Liberal colleagues of Mr Groth have raised questions about how the deputy leader began his relationship with wife Brittany. Picture: Brendan Beckett

On Tuesday, shadow attorney general Michael O’Brien refused to acknowledge that it was an offence for a person in a position of power to engage in a sexual relationship with someone under the age of 18 if they are under your care or supervision.

He also refused to be drawn on any questions regarding concerns raised over how Mr Groth began his relationship with his now-wife in 2011.

“I’ve been in this parliament for, I think, nearly 19 years now, and one rule has been paramount – families are off limits,” he said.

“And I’m going to stick to that.”

Opposition education spokesperson Jess Wilson also would not comment, including on whether she knew it was an offence for an adult in a position of power to start up a romantic relationship with a minor.

“It’s been a long held sacrosanct rule in this place that we do not comment on people’s families and I will not comment,” she said.

Sam Groth and wife Brittany meet when he was a tennis coach and she a teen. Picture: Supplied

Mr Groth said his family should be “off limits” as he walked into the Liberal Party room flanked by leader Brad Battin on Tuesday.

“My wife and kids should be off limits, and the fact that they’re not says more about others than it does about me,” he said.

Liberal MP Bill Tilley denied that Mr Groth had done anything wrong and called for “heads on sticks” following revelations some colleagues were concerned the relationship could be weaponised.

“There’s nothing in it,” he said.

“Hang on, let me take that back.

“There is something in it, because I want to … find out who exactly has been flapping their gums and trying to bring down one of their own.

“I want some heads on sticks … absolute cowards.”

Other key Liberal figures also rallied around Mr Groth.

Shadow treasurer James Newbury said it was “absolutely disgraceful to attack someone’s wife” while former leader Matthew Guy said it was “despicable”.

Liberal MPs David Hodgett and Richard Riordan denied they were concerned about colleagues backgrounding against Mr Groth.

Originally published as Labor Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas brands circumstances of how Sam Groth started relationship with wife inappropriate