Daniel Andrews previously denied hearing concerns about Victoria's now-infamous rorts-for-votes scandal, but the premier now admits that a seconds-long conversation during an election campaign could have happened.
Labor MP Adem Somyurek last week told a parliamentary inquiry he had concerns about the party's scheme of using taxpayer-funded electorate staff for candidate campaigning during the 2014 election campaign, and that he approached then-opposition leader Mr Andrews.
"I can't necessarily confirm for you exactly when it occurred, I can't confirm for you exactly what was said," Mr Andrews told ABC radio on Monday when asked if Mr Somyurek had raised the issue with him.
But the Labor leader admitted - "I believe, yes" - that the conversation had occurred.
"I've no reason to doubt Mr Somyurek's account of a conversation that by his reckoning was sort of raising an issue for a matter of seconds, I've no reason to question that," Mr Andrews continued.
The Victorian ombudsman found the scheme misused $388,000, which has since been repaid by Labor, by using electorate staff to campaign for party candidates.
A parliamentary committee is investigating the matter, already the subject of an ombudsman inquiry, as police consider a criminal probe.
The Liberal-Nationals opposition has called for Mr Andrews to face the parliamentary committee and give evidence under oath.
On Monday he denied any of the party's misdirected campaign staff were linked to his electorate office.
"Staff that worked in my office worked for me and for the people of the electorate of Mulgrave and were not involved in activities beyond the seat of Mulgrave."
