Georgie Crozier urges Sam Groth to 'explain' after using her chauffeured vehicle to take him home while 'smashed'
Liberal MP Georgie Crozier has blasted her colleague Sam Groth after it was revealed he used her taxpayer-funded chauffeur to drive him and his wife home from the Australian Open last year.
Mr Groth, who was reportedly "smashed", and his wife were driven to their Rye home, almost 100km south of Melbourne, in order to get back from the tennis after a private fundraiser held with Nationals MP Jade Benham and subsequent boozing in the tennis precinct party zone.
While the incident happened in January 2024, the Herald Sun revealed the details on Friday.
The former tennis player is under heavy scrutiny for the misuse of the vehicle as taxpayer-funded vehicles are provided to government ministers and senior opposition figures for them to use while carrying out public duties.
Parliamentary guidelines state they must not be used for '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.
In addition to the vehicle revelations, Mr Groth was also found by Herald Sun to have charged taxpayers to stay in luxury hotels while he was attending sporting events, including $317 for accommodation on two occasions during the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Melbourne.
Victorian Opposition Leader Brad Battin faced questions over the reports but backed Mr Groth insisting he fulfilled the requirement of meeting with stakeholders at the fundraiser.
Ms Crozier, however, said the people of Victoria deserved better from one of its public figures.
Sources told the Herald Sun Mr Groth had said to Ms Crozier he wanted to borrow her chauffeur-driven vehicle for a work event but that when she found out "he was smashed", she was furious at her colleague.
'Sam needs to explain his actions, I can't. I don't know the full details of what happened on the day. I think it's up to the leadership to explain his actions," she said.
'There are people around the state who are in so much despair — the drought, cost of living, the issues around health.
'Every single Victorian I think deserves much better.'
Mr Groth spoke to the media on Friday where he defended his actions and denied he was drunk, but failed to admit whether he misled Ms Crozier over the use of the vehicle.
'At the Australian Open in 2024, I attended in both an official capacity and a personal one," he said.
'I was at the event to meet various stakeholders and attend meetings before being part of a fundraising initiative. The accusations around intoxication are wrong.
'Everything was and is above board. It has all been officially disclosed. There is nothing to hide.'
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