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| Geoff Shaw escapes expulsion from Victorian parliament | Geoff Shaw escapes expulsion from Victorian parliament |
| (2 months later) | |
| Geoff Shaw has been spared expulsion from Victoria's parliament after the former speaker, Ken Smith, backed down on his threat to vote with Labor to see the Frankston MP banished. | Geoff Shaw has been spared expulsion from Victoria's parliament after the former speaker, Ken Smith, backed down on his threat to vote with Labor to see the Frankston MP banished. |
| But the former Liberal-turned-independent, who failed to take his seat in the chamber while his fate was being debated, has been suspended until early September for misusing his parliamentary vehicle and fuel allowance. | But the former Liberal-turned-independent, who failed to take his seat in the chamber while his fate was being debated, has been suspended until early September for misusing his parliamentary vehicle and fuel allowance. |
| Shaw will also be fined nearly $7,000 and forced to issue an apology, or risk being expelled when he returns from his suspension in September. | Shaw will also be fined nearly $7,000 and forced to issue an apology, or risk being expelled when he returns from his suspension in September. |
| By then, even if he were expelled, it would be too close to the state election in November for a byelection to be held in Frankston, which would have put government's narrow one-seat majority at risk. | By then, even if he were expelled, it would be too close to the state election in November for a byelection to be held in Frankston, which would have put government's narrow one-seat majority at risk. |
| The vote on Labor's move to expel Shaw was tied 42-42, requiring the speaker, Christine Fyffe, to break the deadlock by voting with the government. | The vote on Labor's move to expel Shaw was tied 42-42, requiring the speaker, Christine Fyffe, to break the deadlock by voting with the government. |
| The outcome was virtually guaranteed when Smith announced to parliament on Wednesday evening that he would vote with his party to suspend Shaw. | The outcome was virtually guaranteed when Smith announced to parliament on Wednesday evening that he would vote with his party to suspend Shaw. |
| "I shall not be supporting the opposition's motion to expel the member from parliament," Smith told the chamber, noting that the precedent it set "would, on reflection, bring damage on our parliament". | "I shall not be supporting the opposition's motion to expel the member from parliament," Smith told the chamber, noting that the precedent it set "would, on reflection, bring damage on our parliament". |
| Smith was forced to resign as the parliament's speaker in February after falling out with Shaw, who holds the balance of power in the lower house. | Smith was forced to resign as the parliament's speaker in February after falling out with Shaw, who holds the balance of power in the lower house. |
| As late as Friday, Smith was threatening to support Labor’s bid to have Shaw expelled. On Tuesday, he maintained that Shaw had "trashed the reputation of this parliament", but said a vote to expel the recalcitrant member for Frankston could be seen to be "motivated by revenge rather than principle". | As late as Friday, Smith was threatening to support Labor’s bid to have Shaw expelled. On Tuesday, he maintained that Shaw had "trashed the reputation of this parliament", but said a vote to expel the recalcitrant member for Frankston could be seen to be "motivated by revenge rather than principle". |
| Shaw's suspension will bring little reprieve for Denis Napthine's Coalition government, which will be forced to seek the opposition's support to pass any bills until the Frankston MP returns, when it will have to again negotiate with him to pass its legislation. | Shaw's suspension will bring little reprieve for Denis Napthine's Coalition government, which will be forced to seek the opposition's support to pass any bills until the Frankston MP returns, when it will have to again negotiate with him to pass its legislation. |
| Napthine, played down the likelihood of deadlock in the lower house, telling the ABC on Thursday: "If you put forward good legislation in the best interests of all Victorians, and argue your case soundly, then I would expect all sides of parliament to support that legislation."He said Shaw's penalty was "the toughest parliament has imposed in 100 years", and that his apology to parliament would have to be sincere."[Shaw] needs to show genuine remorse, genuine understanding of his wrongdoing, and if he isn't prepared to do that, he will be in contempt and expelled from parliament."The government would "tighten up" rules on MPs' expenses in light of the affair, the premier said. | Napthine, played down the likelihood of deadlock in the lower house, telling the ABC on Thursday: "If you put forward good legislation in the best interests of all Victorians, and argue your case soundly, then I would expect all sides of parliament to support that legislation."He said Shaw's penalty was "the toughest parliament has imposed in 100 years", and that his apology to parliament would have to be sincere."[Shaw] needs to show genuine remorse, genuine understanding of his wrongdoing, and if he isn't prepared to do that, he will be in contempt and expelled from parliament."The government would "tighten up" rules on MPs' expenses in light of the affair, the premier said. |
| The deputy premier, Peter Ryan, said with Shaw's suspension "the issue has now been dealt with". He would not speculate on what horse-trading would be required to pass bills in the rebel MP's absence."All these hypotheticals, we will deal with them as they arise, just as we have until now," he said.The opposition leader, Daniel Andrews, said the suspension was a "slap on the wrist", and would continue what had become "the greatest circus in Victoria"."It is a great shame that Mr Smith couldn't find it in himself to do the right thing by the parliament and by the people of this state," he said."We're going to see on those matters where there is no agreement between the government and Labor continued tied votes, and the speaker being called upon to use her casting vote to determine the future of bills, the future of laws, the future of the government in some ways. That's not a stable arrangement."He said Labor would judge each bill before the parliament "on its individual merits"."We're not writing the government any blank cheques, we're not gong to be giving the government an easy ride on this. Our job is to scrutinise the government, to hold the government to account." | |
| After dominating Victorian politics for the past month, Shaw was nowhere to be seen during question time and as the debate over his future got under way. | After dominating Victorian politics for the past month, Shaw was nowhere to be seen during question time and as the debate over his future got under way. |
| Andrews, peppered the government with a list of the parliamentary perks Shaw would hold on to under the punishment Napthine had proposed. | Andrews, peppered the government with a list of the parliamentary perks Shaw would hold on to under the punishment Napthine had proposed. |
| A $9,000 vehicle allowance, $19,000 in electorate office resources, $163,000 from his salary – not so much a golden handshake as "a golden bear hug", Andrews said. | A $9,000 vehicle allowance, $19,000 in electorate office resources, $163,000 from his salary – not so much a golden handshake as "a golden bear hug", Andrews said. |
| But the premier held fast to his mantra: the punishment was "fair, just and appropriate", and had been "very, very carefully" drafted to ward off any potential legal challenge. | But the premier held fast to his mantra: the punishment was "fair, just and appropriate", and had been "very, very carefully" drafted to ward off any potential legal challenge. |
| "These are sanctions that are enforceable, sanctions that will stick," Napthine said. | "These are sanctions that are enforceable, sanctions that will stick," Napthine said. |