Heated Paynter gets the boot

Member for Bass Brian Paynter was suspended from State Parliament for the week.

By Bonny Burrows

Member for Bass Brian Paynter will continue to speak out against disgraced Independent MP Don Nardella, despite being booted from State Parliament question time.
During a heated question time on 10 May, the local MP yelled over the former Labor politician during his first question as an Independent, telling the Speaker that Mr Nardella shouldn’t be there.
The Wednesday session was the first time the representative for Melton, and now Independent, had asked a question in parliament since it was revealed he had incorrectly claimed more than $100,000 to live outside his electorate in a seaside caravan park on the Bellarine Peninsula.
The incident saw Mr Nardella lose his job and forced an overhaul of MPs’ entitlements.
But his continued presence in government has angered a number of politicians, including Mr Paynter, whose outburst saw him suspended from parliament for the week.
Speaking to the Gazette later that afternoon, Mr Paynter said he would continue to speak up against the disgraced politician.
“My word I will. Every time he gets up and asks a question I’ll be calling for him to be removed from the chamber,” Mr Paynter said.
“He shouldn’t be there, he should resign.”
He also called on Premier Daniel Andrews to “step up and show some leadership”.
“If you want to hold yourself up as a decent government, why wouldn’t you stand up and take a stand?” Mr Paynter asked.
Premier Daniel Andrews has previously told media he was unable to force Mr Nardella’s resignation, or the repayment of the money.
He has, however, described Mr Nardella’s actions as “appalling behaviour”.