Monash University political scientist Zareh Ghazarian said non-government MPs had a powerful role in the governance of the state and,in the months before November’s election,they were more likely to flex their muscles and remind voters what they stand for.

“Arrogance was one of the Achilles heels of the Kennett government and it appears that sort of language and that description is being made of the Andrews government,” Dr Ghazarian said.

“Critics are arguing that they are seen to be an arrogant government and part of that comes from the fact they have such a strong position in the lower house.”

Premier Daniel Andrews said he was “not entirely surprised” by Ms Vaghela’s decision to cross the floor but told reporters on Thursday that he was “not here to talk about that person”.

Asked how the government’s agenda would fare in the legislative council this year,Mr Andrews said,“let’s see what happens”.

“I think it’d be unwise to describe the legislative council as ever having been easy – we don’t have a majority in that chamber for our entire time because the Victorian community did not give us a majority in that chamber.

“We absolutely respect that and we work with all members of the crossbench,the opposition,every member in that chamber to get our agenda through.”

Mr Somyurek,an upper house MP,was sacked from the Labor caucus following anAgeand60 Minutes investigation into his alleged role in an industrial-scale branch stacking operation.

On Wednesday,he introduced the motion to revisit Labor’s misuse of almost $400,000 in public funds during the 2014 election campaign,which the Ombudsman in 2018 found was an “artifice” and “wrong”.

Outside Parliament on Thursday morning,Mr Somyurek said he was stressed and did not sleep well overnight after referring the red shirts rort,which he played a part in,back to the Ombudsman.

“[IBAC] might not even like what I did,I hope here’s no retribution from IBAC. I would hope they would treat me as they would treat the other 24 MPs who took part in the scheme,and I would hope they would bring the Premier in because he is responsible for the scheme,” Mr Somyurek said.

“He’s the one that designed it;he was the one who used to sit there all day talking about the field campaign. What kind of coward does that and throws 25 MPs under a bus – he needs to come out and take responsibility for this ... he is a coward.”

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