cods wrote on Jun 7
th, 2012 at 10:23am:
it begs the question what happens when the next pollie is found out and has a huge cloud hanging over his/her head???..
keep saying .."I have done nothing wrong"
Ted Baillieu hedges his bets on Liberal MP Geoff Shaw
May 22, 2012
TED Baillieu has given qualified support to embattled MP Geoff Shaw who is fighting claims he allowed his Government-provided car to be used for commercial purposes.
The Liberal backbencher has said he was unaware his parliamentary car was being used for country and interstate deliveries for his hardware business.
Asked repeatedly if he believed Mr Shaw's explanation, Premier Baillieu would say only that he had taken "note" of his version of events and that he would await to see the details of the investigation.
"I don't have all the detail. The only detail I have is what I saw in the paper and we quite rightly referred that straight away to the Speaker," he said.
After the Herald Sun revealed last week that police had attended Mr Shaw's family home during a 2011 domestic issue, and that he had repeatedly hung a banner asking his ex-wife for forgiveness, Mr Baillieu threw his unconditional support behind the Frankston MP.
Yesterday, after allegations Mr Shaw had misused his parliamentary car, it took several questions before Mr Baillieu would again back his backbencher.
"He is a committed local member, he is a committed member of the team and I support all members of the team, and I have confidence in all members of our team," Mr Baillieu said.
Recognising the smell of foul politics
Herald Sun Editorial
May 24, 2012
THE Baillieu Government is falling into the same trap as the Gillard Government in dealing with one of its MPs.
Like the Gillard Government, the Baillieu Government holds a wafer-thin majority and would face a by-election if Frankston MP Geoff Shaw were to be forced out of Parliament.
This is unlikely with Mr Shaw denying allegations of misuse of his taxpayer-funded car. Mr Shaw says if someone did use his car in connection with his hardware business, he will make full restitution.
But the Government is nervous following several incidents involving the trouble-prone MP.
Yesterday, Premier Ted Baillieu was protected from questions about Mr Shaw by Speaker Ken Smith.
The Opposition sees a conflict of interest because it is Mr Smith who is investigating the allegations against Mr Shaw and insists it is a matter for the police.
Mr Smith effectively silenced Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews the day before by turning off his microphone as he attempted to move a motion demanding Mr Shaw make a statement to Parliament
.
There are obvious similarities between what is happening in the Victorian parliament and the incendiary events in Canberra surrounding Labor MP Craig Thomson.
Mr Shaw, a certified accountant, was embarrassed less than two weeks ago when the Herald Sun reported that police were called to his home last year after a domestic dispute.
It was also reported Mr Shaw put up a sign on busy Golf Links road in his electorate in a bizarre plea for his wife to take him back.
He has since apologised for any hurt he may have caused and Premier Baillieu has given his MP qualified support while his alleged car use is being investigated. The Premier points out the MP has been through "a difficult family breakdown.
While it might appear Mr Shaw's alleged indiscretions do not compare to the allegations against Mr Thomson and Federal Parliament Speaker Peter Slipper, the quicker the Victorian Speaker concludes his investigation the better.
To the public, the same tawdry politics are being hung out in Spring St
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ipad/recognising-the-smell-of-foul-politics/story-fn...
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