Geoff Shaw apologises to Victorian Parliament after return from suspension
Victoria's controversial balance-of-power independent MP Geoff Shaw has apologised to Parliament, after being suspended for 11 sitting days for misusing his parliamentary entitlements.
The Frankston MP was suspended by Parliament in June for allowing his parliamentary car and fuel card to be used by employees of his private hardware business.
Ending his three-month suspension, Mr Shaw told the State Parliament today that he was apologising to avoid being in contempt with the Legislative Assembly.
"I humbly and sincerely apologise to the house and to the people of Victoria for my breach of the code of conduct for members, as set out in section three of the Members of Parliament Register of Interest Act 1978," Mr Shaw said.
"I also apologise for breaching what the Privileges Committee says specifically is Section 3.1A, which states 'members shall accept that their prime responsibility is to the performance of their public duty and therefore ensure that this aim is not endangered or subordinated by involvement in conflicting private interests'."
Mr Shaw said he took full responsibility for his actions.
"I accept and I have always stated throughout the various investigations, including a thorough and rigorous investigation by the Department of Public Prosecution, which found no wrongful action, that the buck stops with me," he said.
"I've always sort a conclusion to this matter and I genuinely apologise if my actions to date did not demonstrate such a commitment.
"We're all elected to represent the best interests of our community and that has always been my sincere intention in Frankston."
He said he also understood that the matter had been a distraction to the Parliament.
He told the Parliament that he had repaid $6,838 to the Parliament as required of him by the motion put forward by the Government in June, which saw him suspended.
Neither the Government nor the Opposition moved to reject his apology.
The decision to suspend Mr Shaw came after he declared he no longer had confidence in the Government.
