Vic: Vic government badly damaged: Baillieu

AAP General News (Australia)
12-24-2008
Vic: Vic government badly damaged: Baillieu

MELBOURNE, Dec 24 AAP - Victorian opposition leader Ted Baillieu says the charge laid
against Mr Theophanous is hugely damaging to the state government.

"What a bombshell announcement on Christmas Eve - a senior minister in the Victorian
government charged with rape," Mr Baillieu told reporters.

"These are grave and serious charges and this is hugely damaging to the Victorian government
and (premier) John Brumby must now explain the details of this announcement to all Victorians.

"There could not be a more damaging announcement about a government," he said.

Theophanous had resigned from the ministry, the premier said on Wednesday, adding he
would reshuffle the cabinet on Monday.

The Labor MP stood down from the cabinet on October 13.

Two days later he released a statement professing his innocence after details of the
alleged rape were aired in a Melbourne newspaper (Eds: The Age).

"In the strongest possible terms I refute allegations of any wrongdoing and will vigorously
defend my innocence," Theophanous said on October 15.

"I believe that if this matter is properly dealt with through due process, I will be
found innocent of any wrongdoing."

AAP could not contact Mr Theophanous on Wednesday.

AAP ees/szp/cdh

KEYWORD: THEOPHANOUS BAILLIEU

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