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Victoria's balance of power MP to stand as independent Victoria's balance of power MP to stand as independent
(3 months later)
The MP who holds the balance of power in the Victorian government, Geoff Shaw, has said that he intends to stand as an independent candidate in the state election in November. The MP who holds the balance of power in the Victorian government, Geoff Shaw, has said that he intends to stand as an independent candidate in the state election in November.
Last week, the parliamentary privileges committee found that Shaw had breached the MPs’ code of conduct in his use of a taxpayer-funded vehicle.Last week, the parliamentary privileges committee found that Shaw had breached the MPs’ code of conduct in his use of a taxpayer-funded vehicle.
On Sunday, the former Liberal Party MP and member for Frankston said he planned to run as an independent in the election on 29 November. On Sunday, the former Liberal Party MP and member for Frankston said he planned to run as an independent in the election on 29 November.
“That's my intention,” he told Fairfax Radio. “I made a commitment for four years. I keep my commitment.“That's my intention,” he told Fairfax Radio. “I made a commitment for four years. I keep my commitment.
“I won’t be looking at resigning, even though [there is] all the flak that’s been put against me.”“I won’t be looking at resigning, even though [there is] all the flak that’s been put against me.”
The committee cleared Shaw of contempt of parliament as it could not be satisfied that he had wilfully contravened the code of conduct. Its report has yet to be tabled in parliament. Dishonesty charges against Shaw were dropped in December. The committee cleared Shaw of contempt of parliament as it could not be satisfied that he had wilfully contravened the code of conduct. Its report has yet to be tabled in parliament. Dishonesty charges against Shaw were dropped in December.
A Liberal MP and former parliamentary Speaker, Ken Smith, who has publicly clashed with Shaw, told AAP last week that he had “no doubt Shaw was in contempt of parliament".A Liberal MP and former parliamentary Speaker, Ken Smith, who has publicly clashed with Shaw, told AAP last week that he had “no doubt Shaw was in contempt of parliament".
Smith said he would vote with Labor against the government to find Shaw in contempt of parliament. Shaw said he was unconcerned.Smith said he would vote with Labor against the government to find Shaw in contempt of parliament. Shaw said he was unconcerned.
“Ken has been in parliament 25 years and no one knew about him until six months ago,” he said. “I'm really not too interested in what he says.”“Ken has been in parliament 25 years and no one knew about him until six months ago,” he said. “I'm really not too interested in what he says.”
The committee recommended that parliament order Shaw repay another $6,838. He has already repaid $1,250. The committee recommended that parliament order Shaw repay another $6,838. He has already repaid $1,250.