Former Deputy Speaker Don Nardella ‘cannot be forced’ to repay money he claimed

Changes introduced by the state government to the MP entitlement system will make no difference, according to former Speaker Christine Fyffe. 

Ms Fyffe said former Deputy Speaker Don Nardella should pay back the $100,000 he claimed but acknowledged he cannot be forced to.

‘The presiding officers cannot force a member to re-pay, they can’t take any action,’ she told Neil Mitchell.

‘This needs to be investigated further, it wasn’t a mistake Neil.’ 

Ms Fyffe called for an independent advisor to decide on future entitlement issues.

‘We need a separate person, working from the ombudsman office who can advise on whether, yes, this was wrong or no, it wasn’t,’ she said.

Premier Andrews said Mr Nardella should repay the money he claimed but at this stage won’t be making him.

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