A Victorian local councillor, who allegedly supplied a gun to a mafia member, is being expelled from the Labor Party.
Moreland councillor Michael Teti will be cast out of the party after The Age newspaper said he also moved funds on behalf of convicted crime boss Frank Madafferi.
Mr Teti pleaded guilty in December to carrying a loaded gun in his car, but was still invited to vote at Labor's March state conference.
His plea earned him a six-month good behaviour bond. Acting Premier James Merlino would not comment on why Mr Teti wasn't expelled from the party when the gun charges were laid.
"My understanding is that the processes are under way to expel this individual from the party, that's appropriate, but questions should be put to the state secretary," he told reporters on Monday.
State secretary Noah Carroll and assistant secretary Kosmos Samaras are yet to reply to questions about Mr Teti.
Mr Teti and his lawyer have also been contacted for comment.
The Age reported that Mr Teti allegedly gave a gun to a man who used it to threaten a woman in Doreen.
Mr Teti told the Herald Sun he had represented Mr Madafferi free of charge after being dumped by his law firm.
"Everyone thinks it is unbelievable that someone would do something for someone else without pay. They think that you must be on the take or have a motive," Mr Teti told the Herald Sun on Sunday.
"But I felt bad for him. I felt bad for his family."
Opposition leader Matthew Guy said Labor had a lot to say when allegations about mafia links with his party were aired last Monday.
"I note the deputy premier was keen to blame everyone in the Liberal Party last week around these issues and has taken a missing-in-action leave pass over this issue today," he told reporters.
Mr Guy said Labor Party members kept company with people he would not associate with.
Share
