Rebel MP Geoff Shaw apologises to Victorian parliament

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/02/geoff-shaw-apologises-to-victorian-parliament

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Geoff Shaw, the renegade balance-of-power MP suspended from Victorian parliament for abusing his parliamentary vehicle and fuel card, delivered his long-awaited apology to Victorian parliament on Tuesday.

Liberal premier Denis Napthine had warned Shaw that he either make a “genuine” apology by a deadline of 2 September, as outlined by a motion passed by government in June, or be expelled.

Shaw said he was genuinely remorseful as parliament paused for him to deliver a personal explanation.

“I accept and have always stated throughout the various investigations, including a thorough and rigorous investigation by the department of public prosecution which found no wrongful action, that the buck stops with me and I have taken full responsibility,” Shaw said.

“I’ve always sought a conclusion to this matter, and I genuinely apologise if my actions to date did not demonstrated such a commitment.”

During his 11 sitting-day suspension, Shaw inflamed the situation by delivering an apology at a Melbourne comedy night where he joked he was 7% guilty of rorting and had been “screwed” by parliament.

He acknowledged that his behaviour had been a distraction.

“We are all elected to deliver the best interests of our community and that has always been my sincere intention for Frankston,” he said.

“I understand this matter has been a distraction, for which I am sincerely sorry. I humbly and sincerely apologise to the house and to the people of Victoria for my breach of the code of conduct.”

Shaw, a former Liberal and now independent MP, was also ordered to repay $6,838 in misused vehicle and fuel entitlements, which speaker, Christine Fyffe, told parliament he had done.

However Shaw was not deterred from being outspoken in the lead-up to his apology, accusing the Napthine government of lacking leadership on Monday.

Shaw, a conservative Christian, has long attracted controversy.

In May, he said he wanted to put forward a bill to ban partial-birth and gender selection abortion, despite no evidence of such abortions happening in Victoria. He also said he wanted doctors to provide pain relief to foetuses during abortion procedures.

“If in society we are saying there should be more women on boards, there should be more females in parliament, well you are killing them,” Shaw said at the time.

“Here in Australia we can’t kill snake eggs but we are quite happy to kill an egg in the tummy and it should be the safest place for a baby to be.

“How can any women who are pro-women’s rights say that you can kill girls?”

In June, as he took his place in the Legislative Assembly, he mocked the tradition of welcome to country and acknowledging traditional owners of the land.

“In taking my place in the Legislative Assembly, it is appropriate for me to acknowledge the original owner of the land on which we stand,” he said.

“God, the Creator, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of the Bible.”

Shaw’s quitting of the Liberal party last March triggered the resignation of former Liberal premier, Ted Baillieu.