Victorian Nationals MP-select Luke O’Sullivan has failed in his Supreme Court bid to force the government to hold a joint sitting of Parliament so he could be sworn in.
Mr O’Sullivan first challenged Premier Daniel Andrews last month, but it was adjourned after the government’s legal team requested more time to prepare for the case.
On Wednesday, the courts refused to intervene in the dispute, which had prevented Mr O’Sullivan from representing the Northern Victorian region in the upper house.
Judge John Dixon ruled that a joint sitting was a matter for the Parliament and not the Supreme Court.
Mr O’Sullivan was preselected to fill the casual vacancy following the resignation of Damian Drum, who successfully contested the federal seat of Murray.
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