Baillieu stands by MP accused of rorting

14 Oct 2012, 3:52 pm   -   Source: AAP
Victorian Opposition leader Daniel Andrews has asked police to investigate embattled MP Geoff Shaw. (AAP)

Victorian Opposition leader Daniel Andrews has asked police to investigate embattled MP Geoff Shaw. (AAP)

The Victorian opposition leader says he has asked the police commissioner for an investigation into the ombudsman's finding against MP Geoff Shaw.

Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu is continuing to support embattled MP Geoff Shaw as claims against him are referred to police.

Ombudsman George Brouwer found the Frankston Liberal MP used, and allowed employees to use, his taxpayer-funded car for his own business and used a parliamentary fuel card to pay for petrol for his private vehicle.

Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews said he sent a letter to the Victorian police commissioner on Sunday seeking an investigation.

"My office has hand-delivered to the office of the chief commissioner a letter asking Victorian police to investigate Mr Shaw and to determine whether any crimes, in fact, have been committed," he told reporters.

"We think there's every chance that a crime has, in fact, occurred and it's appropriate Victorian police examine that."

Mr Andrews said Premier Ted Baillieu should sack Mr Shaw, but was protecting his majority.

The Victorian coalition's grip on power rests on Mr Shaw's vote.

Mr Baillieu continued to argue he didn't want to pre-empt an inquiry by the parliament's privileges committee, again calling Mr Shaw a good local member.

He said the ombudsman did not refer the matter to police, but recommended the committee examine the issue.

"The ombudsman has made a recommendation and we'll see that recommendation out," the premier told reporters after the Liberal Party State Council meeting in Ballarat, which Mr Shaw did not attend.

He denied suggestions from journalists tha Mr Shaw had threatened the government with a by-election unless guaranteed pre-selection to stand as the party's candidate at the next state election in 2014.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said no report had yet been received from the opposition leader.

"If a report was received, it would be assessed as with any other matter to initially determine if criminal offences have occurred," she said.

"If the opposition states they have sent correspondence to Victoria Police, then we would wait to receive that correspondence and begin any potential assessment then."

The chief commissioner's office is closed on a weekend.

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