“Hello MG. Attached is the proposed agreement between [the donor] and Marketing and Sticky Media Management,” Catlin wrote to Guy’s private Hotmail address. “It’s per the original email agreement between you and me. Can I let you send it?”
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Guy said he did not send the email to the donor, no payment was made and no contract was signed. He said Catlin withdrew to “maintain the perception of integrity.”
“Mitch stepped down because we want to keep the perceptions right, that there’s nothing that could be wrong, even though nothing’s been signed, nothing’s been agreed upon,” Guy said.
“[It’s] totally different from the government that broke and stole and thief. No corrupt government will consign me.”
The opposition leader refused to answer detailed questions about the integrity crisis gripping his party less than four months before the state election, saying he would not comment because the government had referred the matter to agencies. of integrity and Victoria Police.
Several members of the shadow cabinet told The Age they were unconvinced by Mr Guy’s assurances that the scandal was over.
“We are all waiting to see what comes next,” said a backbench MP, speaking to The Age on condition of anonymity.
Federal MPs in Victoria met on Wednesday evening for an arranged dinner to discuss Catlin’s resignation and the resulting political damage, according to several sources in attendance.
One MP said Guy would likely continue in his role, but the federal Liberals shared the concerns of their state colleagues that more problems could arise before the election.
The Independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC) said on Thursday that it had received a complaint from the government.
“Every complaint received by IBAC is assessed in accordance with the IBAC Act to determine whether we will investigate it, refer it to another organization for investigation or dismiss it,” an IBAC spokesman said.
“IBAC will make no further comment on this matter at this stage.”
Prime Minister Daniel Andrews refused to be drawn into his government’s complaints to integrity agencies, but senior government minister Danny Pearson said Guy needed to “answer fundamental questions about the what’s going on in your office.”
He asked Catlin to release an audited copy of Catchy Media Marketing and Management’s financial statements to make public what, if any, payments he was receiving.
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“Since 2014, when Matthew Guy became opposition leader, he has presented himself as the prince of probity, but he can’t or won’t answer fundamental questions about what’s going on in his office” , Pearson said.
Meanwhile, former Liberal campaigner Simon Frost had been seen as a favorite to replace Catlin. However, former federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s ally will not become Guy’s new chief of staff and is likely to take up a role in the private sector.
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