Victorian Premier Denis Napthine has indicated he will accept the vote of independent MP Geoff Shaw, after the former Liberal was charged with 24 offences.
Shaw holds the balance of power in the Victorian parliament and has refused to stand aside as he fights charges of misconduct in public office and obtaining financial advantage by deception.
Dr Napthine said the government would continue to seek support from all members of parliament as part of the parliamentary process - including Shaw.
"We will look for the support from all sides of politics," Dr Napthine said.
"It is the way that parliament works.
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"We are seeking in that debating process in the parliament the support of members of parliament - all members of parliament."
Dr Napthine said it was improbable a state election would be called early as a result of charges being laid against Shaw, but confirmed the Victorian Liberal Party would run a candidate in his seat of Frankston at the November 2014 poll.
He said he had not had any conversations with Shaw since the charges were laid.
"We will let members of parliament vote on ... legislation as they see fit," Dr Napthine said.
"We do not know how Mr Shaw will vote until he votes."
Dr Napthine dismissed comparisons between Shaw and former federal MP Craig Thomson as "nonsense" because the Victorian and federal parliaments operate differently.
"The situation is different between how Canberra and Victoria operate ... the votes are taken differently," Dr Napthine told reporters on Wednesday.
Under Victorian law, an MP found guilty of indictable offences that attract a penalty of at least five years must vacate their seat.
Shaw has been under investigation for almost a year after the state ombudsman found he had used his taxpayer-funded car for his hardware business.
He also used a parliamentary fuel card to pay for petrol for another private vehicle, leading the ombudsman to find Shaw might be in contempt of parliament or have breached parliamentary privilege.
Shaw quit the Liberal party in March, citing concerns over leadership under then-premier Ted Baillieu.
He revealed last week that he has already repaid $1250 as a gesture of goodwill.
He has been summonsed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on October 8.
