Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has refused to act against embattled MP Cesar Melhem despite a damning report referring him to prosecutors over possible criminal conduct.
Mr Melhem has denied any wrongdoing after the unions royal commission referred the former Australian Workers' Union Victorian secretary over corruption and false accounting allegations.
The premier says it is not up to politicians to give "running commentaries" about possible court matters despite state and federal coalition figures urging Mr Andrews to sack Mr Melhem from the Labor Party.
"It's not appropriate at all for any politician to be running off at the mouth about matters that may well finish up the subject of charges and facing the Victorian courts," he said on Thursday.
Mr Andrews refused to say whether he was disappointed in the actions of Mr Melhem, and said the MP would continue doing his job representing the people of western Melbourne and "working hard to clear his name".
The premier admitted he had not spoken to Mr Melhem because he had been dealing with the imminent threat of Victorian bushfires.
"I've been rather busy dealing with the fact that there are significant changes today and the next few days," Mr Andrews said.
"These other matters - frankly, they're not very high on my list.
"There is a process to be gone through here, as these are serious issues, and they ought to be dealt with by relevant authorities, and I'm confident they will be."
An emotional Mr Melhem said on Wednesday the commission was not bound by the rules of evidence and thus, its findings were largely based on subjective assumptions.
"They are happy to basically destroy people's names and reputations and families," he told reporters.
