Labor hits out at rorts raids
DAWN raids across three states and territories and the arrests of 17 people over Victorian Labor’s rorts-for-votes scandal have sparked claims of heavy-handed police tactics.
With less than four months until a state election, Victorian Labor continues to be rocked by the $388,000 scandal, which dates to the party’s successful 2014 campaign.
State secretary Samuel Rae said the party would continue to co-operate with police in the investigation into the misuse of parliamentary entitlements, but hit out at the tactics.
“Conducting dawn raids on people’s homes was completely unnecessary, given those involved would have co- operated if asked,” Mr Rae said. “We have also received a number of concerning reports about the raids, including that some of those questioned were told by Victoria Police that they did not need legal representation during the interview process.
“On behalf of our people, we reserve all rights in these matters.”
Only ALP field organisers were questioned in Melbourne, regional Victoria, NSW and the Northern Territory yesterday. Among them is whistleblower Jake Finnigan, a former staffer for now-Police Minister Lisa Neville.
He said he was arrested at home at 5.55am for “making a false document” and taken to a Melbourne police station, where he was strip-searched and put in a cell before an in- terview. He was later released without charge, but told he could be charged by summons at a later date.
The arrests come six days after the launch of a police fraud squad investigation into the approval of taxpayer funds being spent on Labor campaign staff during the party’s successful 2014 election.
Ombudsman Deborah Glass in March found 21 past and present Labor MPs systematically misused public funds in breach of parliamentary guidelines, but said most participants thought they were acting in accordance with the law.
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy repeated his call for six cabinet ministers linked to the scheme, including Ms Neville and Attorney-General Martin Pakula, to step aside.