‘Significant changes’ ahead over MP’s expenses

Melton MP Don Nardella is facing increasing pressure to repay the money he claimed to live outside his electorate amid new revelations he was hosting guests via couchsurfing.com.

The state opposition has obtained screen shots of Mr Nardella’s partner’s couch surfing profile which shots during 2013 they were hosting guests at their Lake Wendouree home.

The revelations were raised in question time following the release of the Price Waterhouse Coopers report into the allowance scandal.

The report finds Mr Nardella has claimed nearly $175,000 since 2010.

It says he chose to stay in an Ocean Grove caravan park because his St Kilda property was too small.

Tarneit MP Telmo Languiller claimed nearly $38,000 all of which has been repaid.

The Premier says the report will help inform the government allowance review.

President of the Upper House Bruce Atkinson told Neil Mitchell it’s in the hands of the Legislative Assembly, and the Premier.

‘Effectively they have both been enrolled at the addresses they claimed were their residences on the peninsula,’ he said.

‘They both claim they had an association with those properties.

‘Mr Nardella asserts that he did live there, but there was certainly doubt cast in the report on that claim.

‘In Mr Languiller’s case he indicated he had an intention to live there but circumstances arose that he didn’t actually meet that intention.’

Mr Atkinson said there is a broader review into allowances underway which he expects will lead to significant changes.

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