South West Coast member Denis Napthine is yet to comment on the exit of MP Geoff Shaw (pictured).
THE Coalition government has been thrown into crisis today after the shock resignation of Frankston MP Geoff Shaw.
The move by Mr Shaw to quit the Liberal party could remove the Coalition's balance of power in parliament and has fuelled further speculation of a leadership spill against Premier Ted Baillieu.
Mr Shaw is yet to confirm if he will sit as an independent- however the state could be facing the prospect of a hung parliament if Mr Shaw does not guarantee supply to the Coalition.
Liberal MPs gathered behind closed doors this morning following the revelation.
They remained tight-lipped facing the media this afternoon before sitting for question time.
A spokeswoman for South West Coast member Denis Napthine told The Standard there would be no comment until an official announcement expected later this afternoon.
Meanwhile, Mr Shaw remains under police investigation for alleged misuse of his taxpayer-funded car.
The fresh crisis comes in the wake of another scandal showing Mr Baillieu's chief of staff Tony Nutt had offered help to a disgraced former staffer.
Yesterday Western District MLC and Liberal backbencher Simon Ramsay told Fairfax Media the government's "good stories" were being overshadowed by the rolling scandals.
"It's very frustrating for a backbencher. We have good stories to tell and it is being overshadowed by internal problems," Mr Ramsay said.
With The Age.
s.mccomish@fairfaxmedia.com.au
