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Victorian premier to block Labor's bid to expel Geoff Shaw Victorian premier blocks Labor's bid to expel Geoff Shaw
(about 1 hour later)
The Victorian premier, Denis Napthine, will block Labor efforts to expel Geoff Shaw when parliament resumes on Tuesday afternoon, deferring a vote on the rogue MP’s fate until later this week. The Victorian parliament has blocked Labor efforts to expel Geoff Shaw, deferring a vote on the rogue MP’s fate until later this week.
"We will deal with the issue of the member for Frankston once the three budget bills are passed. That's the priority for the people of Victoria," Napthine told reporters after a party room meeting in Melbourne on Tuesday. Opposition leader Daniel Andrews tried to seek leave to suspend standing orders so a privileges committee report into the balance-of-power MP could be considered, but the move was opposed by the government and as a result blocked by the Speaker.
"We will deal with the issue of the member for Frankston once the three budget bills are passed. That's the priority for the people of Victoria," the premier, Denis Napthine, told reporters after a party room meeting in Melbourne earlier on Tuesday.
The deputy premier, Peter Ryan, told 3AW radio the government would spend Tuesday passing the budget, but an outcome on Shaw would be reached before parliament breaks on Thursday.The deputy premier, Peter Ryan, told 3AW radio the government would spend Tuesday passing the budget, but an outcome on Shaw would be reached before parliament breaks on Thursday.
“We will spend today passing our three budget bills ... so that by the conclusion of parliament tonight, the budget bills are passed. We will then move to deal with Mr Shaw,” Ryan said.“We will spend today passing our three budget bills ... so that by the conclusion of parliament tonight, the budget bills are passed. We will then move to deal with Mr Shaw,” Ryan said.
“The intention is that by Thursday 4 o’clock when parliament finishes, both issues will have been dealt with.”“The intention is that by Thursday 4 o’clock when parliament finishes, both issues will have been dealt with.”
Ryan would not reveal how the government would deal with Labor’s move to expel Shaw, but said a decision had been made. “We know what we intend to do ... we will tell the parliament first and foremost,” he said. Ryan would not reveal how the government would deal with Labor’s move to expel Shaw, but said a decision had been made.
“We know what we intend to do ... we will tell the parliament first and foremost,” he said.
Napthine said the government had received legal advice on its options, but he would not reveal the contents until after the budget bills had been passed.Napthine said the government had received legal advice on its options, but he would not reveal the contents until after the budget bills had been passed.
Labor is pushing to have Shaw, a former Liberal turned independent who holds the balance of power in the state, found in contempt of parliament for misusing his parliamentary vehicle and fuel cards. Labor is pushing to have Shaw, a former Liberal turned independent who holds the balance of power, found in contempt of parliament for misusing his parliamentary vehicle and fuel cards.
The premier’s comments suggest the government will block any Labor moves to suspend standing orders and bring on a vote on Shaw.
Shaw, the member for Frankston, was ordered to pay back nearly $7,000 after a privileges committee ruled his actions had contravened the MPs’ code of conduct.Shaw, the member for Frankston, was ordered to pay back nearly $7,000 after a privileges committee ruled his actions had contravened the MPs’ code of conduct.
But the Coalition-dominated committee decided he had not “wilfully” broken the code, sparing Shaw a contempt finding, which could lead to his expulsion or suspension from the chamber.But the Coalition-dominated committee decided he had not “wilfully” broken the code, sparing Shaw a contempt finding, which could lead to his expulsion or suspension from the chamber.
Labor will seek to have parliament adopt its minority report, which found Shaw in contempt. It will require a separate vote to have the Frankston MP expelled.Labor will seek to have parliament adopt its minority report, which found Shaw in contempt. It will require a separate vote to have the Frankston MP expelled.
The opposition leader, Daniel Andrews, said Labor was willing to expedite debate on the budget to ensure it passed quickly. His office said it was unclear why Napthine was delaying the vote, suggesting the premier was trying to get former the Liberal speaker, Ken Smith, “back into the tent". Andrews said Labor was willing to expedite debate on the budget to ensure it passed quickly. His office said it was unclear why Napthine was delaying the vote, suggesting the premier was trying to get former the Liberal speaker, Ken Smith, “back into the tent".
Smith, a bitter enemy of Shaw, has threatened to cross the floor and vote with Labor to find the Frankston MP in contempt.Smith, a bitter enemy of Shaw, has threatened to cross the floor and vote with Labor to find the Frankston MP in contempt.
On Friday, Smith held fast to his threat, saying Shaw was a “disgrace”. ''I want him out of the place … I'm voting with the Labor people,” he said.On Friday, Smith held fast to his threat, saying Shaw was a “disgrace”. ''I want him out of the place … I'm voting with the Labor people,” he said.
Earlier, Shaw granted an exclusive interview to his friend, former AFL footballer Jason Akermanis, labelling the government “moral cowards” and confirming that he would contest the 2014 state election as an independent. Earlier, Shaw granted an exclusive interview to his friend Jason Akermanis,the former AFL footballer, labelling the government “moral cowards” and confirming that he would contest the 2014 state election as an independent.