I always had a high regard for John Thwaites. I first spoke to him when he was Opposition health spokesman after the interim CEO of Alpine Health banned him from visiting Bright Hospital.
When Labor surprisingly came to power he was clearly one of the shining stars in cabinet. Along with Steve Bracks and John Brumby he was the leading light in restoring normalcy to Victoria after the Kennett years.
He is intelligent, articulate and some would say good looking. He has also lost my respect.
Thwaites has abused his privileged position. He has accepted free accommodation at the Falls Creek alpine resort on at least six occasions. He must resign or be sacked.
Thwaites appoints the management board which operates the resort. He has abused his role as a minister of the crown in taking free gifts and not declaring them.
Victoria needs a corruption commission to investigate matters such as this, similar to that which is purging Western Australia at great political cost but equally great credit to Premier Alan Carpenter.
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Yes, he should step down and there should be an investigation into the relationship between the State Government and the ski resorts. The free holidays might be just the tip of the iceberg. The State Government goes out of its way to help the resorts and the large developers up there and even contributes taxpayer's money to their projects. That's worth more than a few night's accommodation.