VICTORIAN Nationals Leader Peter Walsh has declined to be drawn into whether disgraced Coalition colleague Tim Smith should recontest the next election.
“(Liberal Leader) Matthew Guy has made his position very clear in regards to Tim Smith,” Mr Walsh told The Guardian.
“I won’t be adding to those comments.”
Mr Walsh was asked if the Kew MP needed to resign from Parliament and if his serious drink driving indiscretion was a distraction to the Coalition’s election chances.
The senior Liberal MP confirmed he wouldn’t be resigning from Parliament when he broke his silence at a press conference on Wednesday.
He refused to say whether Mr Guy told him to stand down at the next election.
Mr Smith crashed his car while more than two times over the legal alcohol limit at the weekend.
Mr Guy had told reporters the disgraced MP should step down from the seat of Kew at the next election, but Mr Smith didn’t confirm this.
“Advice has been given that I need to reflect,” Mr Smith said.
“I’m not going to undermine the sanctity of a private conversation.”
He began the press conference by confirming he would stay in parliament for now.
“I’m not resigning from the parliament,” he said.
“This was the worst mistake of my life.
“Does one error mean that a career is over forever?
“I’ve worked my guts out for years and years.
“He who is without sin, cast the first stone.
“This is the most humbling, embarrassing … experience.
“I’m not unwell, I’m an idiot.”
Mr Smith said he has not yet decided whether he will recontest at the next election.
