A looming court case over fraud allegations is not going to stop Tim McCurdy running again for Ovens Valley in November’s Victorian election.
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But Mr McCurdy was back to work on Wednesday, meeting with Goulburn Murray Water about issues on farming properties in the region.
He confirmed that despite standing down from his shadow minister duties, he would still be the Ovens Valley candidate.
“Yes absolutely – it’s business as usual as far as I’m concerned,” he told The Border Mail.
“This is a distraction that I’ve got to deal with and I’ll be running full steam ahead.”
This will not be the first time Mr McCurdy has appeared in court since entering Parliament.
Former Ovens Valley candidate Julian Fidge lodged a petition in the Supreme Court in 2015 over claims Mr McCurdy took credit for National Party achievements outside his electorate, and a former staff member accused him of bullying in 2014.
“I’ve been in small business all my life, but I get into this game (of politics) and I go to court … This is just part of the game in this business,” Mr McCurdy said.
“I’ve got the full backing of (Victorian National Party leader Peter Walsh) behind me.”
Mr Walsh issued a statement saying Mr McCurdy would continue serving as an MP.
“He most definitely will be continuing his role in Parliament,” he said.
“He’s very focused on making sure he does his local member work.”
Nationals state president Neil Pankhurst also said Mr McCurdy “certainly” had the backing of the party to stand again for election.
“We’ll be waiting for the outcome of the court case,” he said. “It’s always frustrating to have distractions such as these, but what will be will be.”
Police allege the MP forged documents to secure sales commissions worth about $375,000 while working as a real estate agent.
The Victorian Electoral Commission states candidates for election must not have been found guilty of an offence which carries a maximum jail term of more than five years – Mr McCurdy has been charged with offences including making a false document, which has a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail.
Mr McCurdy has denied the allegations of fraud and is due to appear in court in April.
