Tim McCurdy
{{short description|Australian politician}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Tim McCurdy
| honorific-suffix = MP
| image = McCurdy outside Office.png
| constituency_AM = Ovens Valley
| assembly = Victorian Legislative
| term_start = 29 November 2014
| term_end =
| predecessor = New seat
| successor =
| constituency_AM1 = Murray Valley
| assembly1 = Victorian Legislative
| term_start1 = 27 November 2010
| term_end1 = 29 November 2014
| predecessor1 = Ken Jasper
| successor1 = Seat abolished
| majority =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1963|1|16}}
| birth_place = Dandenong, Victoria
| death_date =
| death_place =
| constituency =
| party = National Party
| spouse =
| children = 4
| residence =
| university =
| profession =
| religion =
| signature =
| footnotes =
| website = [http://www.timmcurdy.com.au timmcurdy.com.au]
| caption = McCurdy standing outside his Wangaratta office
}}
Timothy Logan McCurdy (born 16 January 1963{{cite web|title=Members Information – Tim McCurdy (Ovens Valley)|url=https://new.parliament.vic.gov.au/members/tim-mccurdy/|publisher=Parliament of Victoria|accessdate=21 February 2023}}) is an Australian politician. He has been a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly since 2010, representing Murray Valley until 2014 and Ovens Valley thereafter. He was the shadow minister for sport, veterans, gaming and liquor control until March 2018, stepping down in light of the decision of Victoria Police to formally charge McCurdy with fraud offences.{{cite news|last1=Offer|first1=Kaitlyn|title=Vic Nats MP in court over fraud claims|url=https://www.grenfellrecord.com.au/story/5682762/vic-nats-mp-in-court-over-fraud-claims/|accessdate=2020-03-09|work=Katherine Times|date=2018-10-03}} The charges were dismissed in the Victorian County Court in April 2021 due to lack of evidence.{{cite news |last1=Fowler |first1=Adam Cooper, Michael |title='Horrible journey': Nationals MP found not guilty of five fraud charges |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/horrible-journey-nationals-mp-found-not-guilty-of-five-fraud-charges-20210421-p57l5q.html |access-date=21 April 2021 |work=The Age |date=21 April 2021 |language=en}} McCurdy returned to the Shadow Cabinet after the 2022 Victorian Election as the Shadow Minister for Water, and Consumer Affairs, and Gaming and Liquor (in 2025).
Legal controversies
In September 2014, PGW Agriservices issued a writ against McCurdy in the County Court of Victoria claiming damages in the sum of $375,741 for misleading and deceptive conduct and unconscionable conduct contrary to the Fair Trading Act.{{cite news|last1=Ainsworth|first1=Michelle|title=Forge claims hit Nationals Murray Valley MP Tim McCurdy|url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/vic/forge-claims-hit-nationals-murray-valley-mp-tim-mccurdy-ng-effd022723ef028e63639b34526011c7|accessdate=2020-03-09|work=Herald Sun|date=2014-09-21}} The claims pertain to McCurdy's pre-politics career as a real estate agent and commissions worth $375,741 he received in respect of the sale of two farms, the sale of 'Malmo' located 50 km north of Shepparton for $7.8 million in July 2009 and 'Pinegrove' in Katamatite for $3.9 million in December 2009. Both properties were sold to a Chinese purchaser, Xing Long International.{{cite news|last1=Edwards|first1=Jean|title=Victorian Nationals MP Tim McCurdy investigated by police for alleged fraud over property deal|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-12/victorian-nationals-mp-investigated-by-police-for-alleged-fraud/8702260|accessdate=2020-03-09|work=ABC News|date=2017-07-12}} The statement of claim alleged that McCurdy had forged the letterhead of his former colleague and employer, Andrew Gilmour, to profit from the sales after McCurdy had ceased his employment with PGG Wrightson and having told Gilmour that the sales had "fallen over" and "were not proceeding due to the lack of finance". McCurdy settled the civil claim against him later that year.{{cite news|last1=Dowling|first1=James|title=National Ovens Valley MP Tim McCurdy interviewed by police in an alleged fraud investigation|url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/vic/national-ovens-valley-mp-tim-mccurdy-interviewed-by-police-in-an-alleged-fraud-investigation-ng-352478f9705b3af2090fa944bfe9c9aa|accessdate=2020-03-09|work=ABC News|date=2017-07-12}}
In October 2014, it was revealed that McCurdy had been accused by a long-serving former Nationals staffer, Jillian McGillivray, of harassment and bullying, with lawyers for McGillivray expecting her case to be listed before the Wangaratta Magistrates Court in November 2014. McCurdy denied any wrongdoing.{{cite news|title=Bully Claim: McCurdy denies blame in civil suit|url=http://www.bordermail.com.au/story/2610786/bully-claim-mccurdy-denies-blame-in-civil-suit/?cs=53|accessdate=2014-10-08|work=The Border Mail|date=8 October 2014}} After the legal entity responsible for employing parliamentary staff, the Department of Parliamentary Services, paid a confidential settlement sum to McGillivray to settle the court proceedings, McCurdy was subsequently threatened with defamation proceedings for falsely telling public meetings that McGillivray's case had been "thrown out of court" and allegedly calling McGillivray a "bitch".{{cite news|last1=Johnston|first1=David|title=Tim McCurdy denies claims put by lawyers|url=https://www.bordermail.com.au/story/2929131/tim-mccurdy-denies-claims-put-by-lawyers/|accessdate=2021-06-09|work=Border Mail|date=2015-03-07}}
McCurdy was criticised by Liberal MP Tim Smith in 2019 for employing his wife and one of his daughters in his electorate office at taxpayer expense, which Smith described as "totally unacceptable".{{cite news|last1=Minear|first1=Tom|title=Several Victorian MPs have used family members in taxpayer-funded roles|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/several-victorian-mps-have-used-family-members-in-taxpayerfunded-roles/news-story/97bd065a4f79806e6dca86f382767585|accessdate=2020-03-09|work=Herald Sun|date=2019-07-19}} However, unlike their federal counterparts, state MPs are not prohibited from employing family members in taxpayer-funded roles.
Criminal trial
In July 2017, it was reported that McCurdy was being investigated by police for alleged fraud after complaints that, when working as a real estate agent in 2009, he had falsified documents to secure sales commissions worth about $375,000.{{cite news|last1=Carey|first1=Adam|title=Police investigate Tim McCurdy, Nationals MP for Ovens Valley over real estate 'fraud'|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/police-investigate-tim-mccurdy-nationals-mp-for-ovens-valley-over-real-estate-fraud-20170711-gx8y0o.html|accessdate=2017-07-12|work=The Age|date=2017-07-12}} Victoria Police searched McCurdy's office and residence as part of their investigation.{{cite news|last1=Dowling|first1=James|title=National Ovens Valley MP Tim McCurdy interviewed by police in an alleged fraud investigation|url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/vic/national-ovens-valley-mp-tim-mccurdy-interviewed-by-police-in-an-alleged-fraud-investigation-ng-352478f9705b3af2090fa944bfe9c9aa|accessdate=2020-03-09|work=Herald Sun|date=2017-07-12}} In March 2018, police charged McCurdy with multiple fraud offences, and he stood down from his shadow ministry portfolios.{{cite news|title=Victorian Opposition frontbencher Tim McCurdy charged with fraud offences|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-13/tim-mccurdy-victorian-opposition-charged-with-fraud/9543648|accessdate=13 March 2018|work=ABC News|date=13 March 2018|language=en-AU}}{{Cite web | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-04/nationals-mp-tim-mccurdy-to-face-trial-for-fraud/10338180 |title = Nationals MP facing fraud trial just weeks before Victorian election| website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date = 4 October 2018}} In October 2018 it was announced that he would stand trial on ten fraud charges. In March 2019, the Crown successfully convinced the County Court to move the fraud trial from the Shepparton County Court (located near McCurdy's electorate) to the Melbourne County Court.{{cite news|title=Vic Nats MP fraud trial moves to Melbourne|url=https://www.standard.net.au/story/5953435/vic-nats-mp-fraud-trial-moves-to-melbourne/?cs=7|accessdate=2020-03-09|work=The Standard|date=2019-03-13}} McCurdy successfully delayed the trial until May 2020 due to the unavailability of his barrister, Ian Hill QC.{{cite news|last1=Goodman|first1=Rick|title=Vic Nats MP's fraud trial to run in 2020|url=https://www.katherinetimes.com.au/story/5990607/vic-nats-mps-fraud-trial-to-run-in-2020/?cs=9397|accessdate=2020-03-09|work=Katherine Times|date=2019-04-03}}
On 21 April 2021, judge George Georgiou dismissed the charges against McCurdy in the County Court, ruling that there was insufficient evidence to obtain a conviction after the main witness of the prosecution admitted that he falsified the document not Mr McCurdy.
References
{{reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|au-vic-la}}
{{s-bef|before=Ken Jasper}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member for Murray Valley|years=2010–2014}}
{{s-non|reason=Abolished}}
{{s-new}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member for Ovens Valley | years=2014–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}
{{VicCurrentMLAs}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McCurdy, Tim}}
Category:Members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
Category:National Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Victoria
Category:21st-century Australian politicians