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Victorian premier denies government is beholden to independent Geoff Shaw Victorian premier denies government is beholden to independent Geoff Shaw
(7 months later)
Denis Denis Napthine, Victoria’s premier, has denied that the state government is being effectively run by independent MP Geoff Shaw, after Shaw voted with Labor to stymie its legislative agenda.
Napthine, Victoria’s premier, has denied that the state government is Napthine told ABC radio it was “absolute and utter rubbish” to say that Shaw had a hold over the government, later telling reporters: "We are in charge of the legislative agenda. He [Shaw] is an independent member of parliament and he makes his own decisions.
being effectively run by independent MP Geoff Shaw, after Shaw voted
with Labor to stymie its legislative agenda.
Napthine
told ABC radio it was “absolute and utter rubbish” to say that Shaw had
a hold over the government, later telling reporters: "We are in charge of the legislative agenda. He [Shaw] is an independent member of parliament and he makes his own decisions.
"We are not going to be beholden to Mr Shaw on any matters. We'll get on with governing the state.""We are not going to be beholden to Mr Shaw on any matters. We'll get on with governing the state."
However, However, Louise Asher, Napthine’s deputy, admitted that Shaw was “calling the shots” on legislation due to his position as a balance-of-power MP in an evenly split parliament.
Louise Asher, Napthine’s deputy, admitted that Shaw was “calling the This power was demonstrated in parliament on Tuesday, when Speaker Ken Smith stood down after Shaw lost confidence in him. Shaw also voted with Labor to stall the government’s legislative agenda for a week. The Frankston MP did the same thing late last year, meaning that several bills did not have the time to pass.
shots” on legislation due to his position as a balance-of-power MP in an
evenly split parliament.
This
power was demonstrated in parliament on Tuesday, when Speaker Ken Smith
stood down after Shaw lost confidence in him. Shaw also voted with
Labor to stall the government’s legislative agenda for a week. The
Frankston MP did the same thing late last year, meaning that several
bills did not have the time to pass.
Smith, who held the speakership since 2010, attacked both Shaw and the Labor party after deciding to step down from the role.Smith, who held the speakership since 2010, attacked both Shaw and the Labor party after deciding to step down from the role.
Smith Smith told state parliament that Shaw decided to turn against him after making a “number of outrageous demands which I would not give into.”
told state parliament that Shaw decided to turn against him after ''I will not be held to ransom to comply with his demands, and I suggest to the house I have no confidence in the member for Frankston and actually I believe that he is unworthy of being a member of parliament,” Smith said, adding that Labor leader, Daniel Andrews, had shown poor leadership and “typical union tactics” to “collaborate” with Shaw to bring him down.
making a “number of outrageous demands which I would not give into.” Shaw was elected MP for Frankston in 2010 as a member of the Liberal party. Following a series of controversial incidents, he resigned from the parliamentary party in March last year and has sat as an independent MP.
''I Shaw, who had misconduct charges against him dropped in December, holds the balance of power in parliamentary votes due to the evenly matched number of Liberal and Labor MPs in the chamber.
will not be held to ransom to comply with his demands, and I suggest to Shaw and Labor had repeatedly called for Smith to stand down as Speaker, claiming that he had lost the confidence of the house. Liberal MP Christine Fyffe was elected to replace Smith.
the house I have no confidence in the member for Frankston and actually Shaw said Smith’s attack on him was a “disgrace” and that his demands – for extra security after an alleged attack by protesting taxi drivers on the steps of parliament – were reasonable.
I believe that he is unworthy of being a member of parliament,” Smith ''I am disgusted that in the highest office in parliament you can stand up and make those statements, so undignified, attacking members of parliament,'' Shaw said.
said, adding that Labor leader, Daniel Andrews, had shown poor The independent MP said he would use his powerful position to strike favourable deals for his electorate of Frankston. The Melbourne suburb has already had $76m in funding allocated for its hospital and $9m for a new education centre.
leadership and “typical union tactics” to “collaborate” with Shaw to
bring him down.
Shaw
was elected MP for Frankston in 2010 as a member of the Liberal party.
Following a series of controversial incidents, he resigned from the
parliamentary party in March last year and has sat as an independent MP.
Shaw,
who had misconduct charges against him dropped in December, holds the
balance of power in parliamentary votes due to the evenly matched number
of Liberal and Labor MPs in the chamber.
Shaw
and Labor had repeatedly called for Smith to stand down as Speaker,
claiming that he had lost the confidence of the house. Liberal MP
Christine Fyffe was elected to replace Smith.
Shaw
said Smith’s attack on him was a “disgrace” and that his demands – for
extra security after an alleged attack by protesting taxi drivers on the
steps of parliament – were reasonable.
''I
am disgusted that in the highest office in parliament you can stand up
and make those statements, so undignified, attacking members of
parliament,'' Shaw said.
The
independent MP said he would use his powerful position to strike
favourable deals for his electorate of Frankston. The Melbourne suburb
has already had $76m in funding allocated for its hospital and $9m for a
new education centre.