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Vic MP suspension threat over docs

Two Victorian MPs could face suspension unless they produce secret documents requested by other parties.

2 min read

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Source: AAP


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A last ditch release of hundreds of documents could save a Victorian upper house MP from suspension.

The government wheeled thousands of pages of contracts for road projects into parliament house in a bid to save Special Minister of State Gavin Jennings.

He is facing up to six months suspension from the upper house after the government refused to release documents and contracts to MPs.

"There's a threat hanging over the head of the leader of the government in upper house, that he could be suspended for six months, I think it's totally inappropriate," Roads Minister Luke Donnellan told reporters on Tuesday.

Former Labor MP John Lenders was suspended by the upper house in previous terms, but never for longer than one sitting day.

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Mr Donnellan said the government was being transparent, despite taking a year to release the documents the upper house requested, which include the Formula 1 Grand Prix contract and deals for road projects.

"If the opposition wanted these documents, they've had 14 months to actually do an FOI and they've failed to do so," he said.

Labor is also preparing to force opposition leader Matthew Guy to release the Vertigan report into Victoria's finances, which was commissioned in 2011 and substantially ignored by the previous government.

If he doesn't release the document, which he wasn't the responsible minister for, Mr Guy could also face suspension.

Mr Donnellan said Labor's bid to potentially suspend Mr Guy wasn't inappropriate.

"I think it actually focuses the minds of people of whether we're in here for stunts, or we're in here to actually get information," he said.

Mr Jennings' future will be debated on Wednesday, Mr Guy could face his own suspension motion on May 23.


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