Embattled Melton MP Don Nardella has been dumped from attending a taxpayer-funded overseas junket, amid calls for him to resign from Parliament.
The now-independent crossbencher was due to travel to Europe – visiting London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Berlin and Copenhagen – later this month with the Parliament’s economic committee. But the Labor government has said Mr Nardella would be replaced on the trip.
Mr Nardella was this week forced out of the Labor Party caucus for refusing to pay back more than $100,000 he claimed in second residence allowances.
He has consistently said he has done nothing wrong and refused to pay back the money.
“As Mr Nardella is no longer a member of the government, we will be taking the necessary steps to ensure he is replaced by a government MP for his current committee duties,” a statement read.
Mr Nardella reportedly owned two properties in his Melton seat while claiming a second residence allowance for living in Ocean Grove, according to News Corp.
Media reports have stated when Mr Nardella first claimed the allowance he owned two houses in Melton and rented them out, before selling both in February, 2015 for $197,000 and $191,000 respectively.
