Matthew Guy’s chief of staff Mitch Catlin has resigned following revelations he asked a wealthy Liberal Party donor to make more than $100,000 in payments to his private marketing business, in addition to his taxpayer-funded salary.
Addressing the media on Tuesday morning, Guy said Catlin offered his resignation after The Age revealed details of the contract which would have required a wealthy unnamed donor to pay $8333 a month to Catlin’s private marketing company, Catchy Media Marketing and Management, for services as a contractor described as “supporting business interests”.
Guy accepted his resignation but said the contract was never signed.
"I value integrity," Guy said.
A party room meeting of Liberal MPs was delayed on Tuesday morning as the opposition faced questions about the proposed Catlin contract for monthly payments in addition to his taxpayer-funded salary.
Liberal Party MPs were supposed to meet at 8am on the first day back to parliament after the winter break, but the meeting was delayed until 10am, and their joint meeting with Nationals colleagues was put off until 10.45am.
Matthew Guy (inset) with Mitch Catlin image.Credit:.
Shadow health minister Georgie Crozier and emergency services spokesman Brad Battin both said they had read today’s story but were unaware of the details of the proposed deal.
“No, we haven’t rorted time sheets and ripped off the taxpayer,” Crozier said.
The documents show Catlin hired lawyers to draw up a contract for the arrangement, then sent it to Guy asking him to “forward onto” the donor.
The proposed contract contained a clause saying it would be terminated if Catlin left the role of chief of staff to the opposition leader.
The name of the donor was redacted in the leaked documents. The Age is aware of the identity of the donor – who chose not to sign the contract – but has not named him for privacy reasons.
Labor minister Danny Pearson said the opposition needs to “come clean”, demanding Guy reveal his involvement in the proposal.
"What did Mr Guy know and when did he know it?" Pearson said.
“Guy is putting himself up as the alternative premier … this goes to his credibility.
“He’s got serious questions to answer, including are these arrangements being used to get around the strictest donation laws in the country?”
More to come
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