Victorian government MPs have voted to allow themselves to escape an investigation into allegations of misused allowances during the 2014 election.
The first week back at parliament for 2017 saw the Andrews government successfully block a probe by Ombudsman Deborah Glass from applying to current and former members of the lower house.
Attorney-General Martin Pakula argued on Thursday that allowing Ms Glass to investigate lower house MPs would open the doors to either house referring investigations on the other to the Ombudsman - on any matter.
Leader of the House, Jacinta Allan, added that allowing that to happen "takes us into witch-hunt territory".
Despite the successful lower house motion, and several legal bids to stop it, the investigation remains ongoing.
A government move in the Legislative Council to make Ms Glass also look into the Liberals, Nationals and Greens' use of budgets and entitlements was adjourned until the next sitting week.
Focus on these motions drew criticism from the Opposition, who spent the first week attacking the government on bail laws and youth justice after a summer marred with riots at youth prisons and a mass escape.
"The barbecue stopper in Victoria at the moment is your weak bail laws," Nationals leader Peter Walsh said in debate.
"That's what we should be spending this house's valuable time on, rather than debating a long-winded motion."
The week started with condolence motions in both houses for the victims of the Bourke Street attack on January 20.
The alleged driver was on bail for assault when he ploughed through the Bourke Street mall, killing six and injuring dozens more.
Bail laws were brought up repeatedly in parliament with unsuccessful calls for parliament to return next week, instead of February 21, to tackle the issue.
Youth Affairs Minister Jenny Mikakos came under fire in the upper house where the Liberals moved an unfinished motion of no confidence against her.
The Labor government did have another win, against fracking, before escaping the Ombudsman's inquiry.
Victoria will become the first Australian state to permanently ban the process after getting opposition support for the legislation.
The government was also able to spruik on Thursday the approval of Melbourne's tallest tower development - a 90-storey hotel and apartment complex by Crown - and the 4000 jobs it will create.
That announcement came a day after an Auditor-General's report found that Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation oversight of gambling and money laundering at Crown Casino was inadequate.
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