Former tennis star Sam Groth facing calls to step down as deputy Liberal leader over misuse of taxpayer-funded chauffeur driven car
Former tennis star Sam Groth is facing calls to step down as deputy leader of the Victorian Liberal Party following revelations he misused a colleague's taxpayer-funded, chauffer driven car.
The Herald Sun revealed on Friday that Mr Groth got the taxpayer-funded chauffeur to drive him and his wife home to Rye, almost 100km south of Melbourne, after they enjoyed a boozy day at the Australian Open.
The taxpayer funded vehicles are provided to government ministers and senior opposition figures for them to use while carrying out public duties, with parliamentary guidelines stating they must not be used 'improper personal' purposes, for the 'private advantage or benefit for themselves or any other person', or for 'non-public purposes' such as political party fundraisers.
However it has now been revealed that Mr Groth borrowed Georgie Crozier's vehicle in January 2024 in order to get him home from the tennis after a private fundraiser held with Nationals MP Jade Benham and subsequent boozing in the tennis precinct party zone.
It is understood Ms Crozier was unaware of how the vehicle would be used, believing it was a work event.
The report is the latest in a string of stories about Mr Groth's use of parliamentary entitlements, and multiple Liberal MPs have provided anonymous quotes to the Herald Sun calling on the Liberal Party's deputy leader to step down.
'What seems to be developing here is a pattern of entitlement, ongoing disrespect for taxpayers' money and bad judgement time and time again from a wannabe senior member of the team,' one Liberal MP is quoted as saying.
Another of Mr Groth's colleagues, described as a senior Liberal MP said the former professional tennis player was 'trouble'.
'He has to fall on his sword, it's as simple as that. Sam is trouble and this is the last thing the party needs right now,' the MP reportedly said.
The revelations about Mr Groth come the same week former Liberal premier Jeff Kennett warned the 'dysfunctional' Victorian Liberal Party is on the cusp of an 'extraordinary implosion' due to the fallout from the legal battle between John Pesutto and Moira Deeming.
Mr Pesutto is in a race against time to raise the $2.3 million needed to cover Ms Deeming's legal costs after a federal court found he had defamed his own MP as someone who 'associates with Nazis'.
But Liberals are divided on whether the party should cover the costs of the debt in order to prevent a by-election in Mr Pesutto's seat of Hawthorn – which could result in a Teal victory.
'Leadership is absent (and) they are prepared to bankrupt one of their own. What values does the party have when it won't embrace one of its own?' Mr Kennett said.
'Our members and volunteers deserve so much better.'
Fears the Victorian Liberals will lose the upcoming election, despite more than a decade of Labor rule, has led senior Liberals to canvass radical options including parachuting a new leader in from outside parliament.
One senior Liberal who disagreed with the option nevertheless told the Herald Sun there needed to be an 'intervention'.
'An intervention will be required because the current group is so toxic,' the senior Liberal said.
'This is getting very close to the future of the party's existence. There is a real threat they could not win anything at the next election, and it could get worse.'
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