John Lenders will step down from the Labor Party’s campaign committee.Credit:Daniel Pockett
Ombudsman Deborah Glass in 2018 said Lenders held the “greatest share of culpability” for the scheme,into which she has reopened an investigation following a referral from the Victorian Parliament.
On Tuesday,Lenders toldThe Age he was quitting the party’s campaign committee preparing for the November 26 election.
“I don’t want to be a distraction for the party ahead of the state election,which is why I have withdrawn from the campaign committee,” he said.
The committee,which does not make decisions on behalf of the party,is made up of state and federal MPs,Labor elders and union officials. It meets monthly for an hour.
Lenders had been under growing pressure over the past week afterThe Australianrevealed he was a member of the campaign committee,in light of a recent anti-corruption investigation that excoriated the unethical culture inside the Labor Party. Lenders was not the subject of the recent probe.
When asked on Tuesday morning if he supported Lenders remaining on the committee,Premier Daniel Andrews said it was a matter for the party.
“I’ve known John for a long time,he’s somebody that I respect,” Andrews said. “The campaign committee and its membership is entirely a matter for the state secretary and you should have a conversation with him.”