VICTORIAN independent MP Geoff Shaw says he has repaid $1250 over the misuse of his taxpayer-funded vehicle as a gesture of goodwill.
The Frankston MP was grilled by a parliamentary committee on Thursday, after the Victorian ombudsman found last year that Mr Shaw used his parliamentary vehicle for commercial use and his taxpayer-funded fuel card to buy fuel for a private vehicle.
The hearing, which lasted about one-and-a-half hours, was closed to the public and media.
Mr Shaw, a former Liberal turned independent MP who now holds the balance of power in the Victorian coalition-led parliament, released a statement at the conclusion of the hearing confirming he had given evidence.
"Contrary to recent media reports, on 10th May, 2013, as a gesture of goodwill, I paid $1250 to Parliamentary Services, for the full amount identified by the Victorian ombudsman's inquiry, for the allegations made against me," he said.
"This was an offer that I made on the day these allegations arose, and again to the ombudsman, who noted it in his report."
Mr Shaw said he looks forward to the allegations being finalised and will continue to work in the best interest of people of his electorate.
Earlier on Thursday, opposition scrutiny of government spokesman Martin Pakula had called for the hearing to be in public for transparency.
"The reality is this is a very important hearing, the fate of the government potentially hangs in the balance," he told reporters.
As she entered the hearing, Labor committee member Danielle Green agreed, saying: "I think the community's view is that these things should be in public."
However, coalition minister David Hodgett, who is a member of the privileges committee, said while it is inappropriate for him to talk about Mr Shaw's matter he is entitled to fairness.
"He's entitled to natural justice," he told reporters.
"Mr Pakula should perhaps look at the Labor government's record of having hearings in public when they were in government.
"I think it's inappropriate for Mr Pakula to be trying to interfere with the workings of the privileges committee and I think he should know better."
As part of his findings, the ombudsman recommended the privileges committee consider Mr Shaw's case, after finding his actions might have breached parliamentary privilege, be a contempt of parliament or breach the code of conduct.
A separate police investigation into Mr Shaw for misconduct in public office is continuing.
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