An ombudsman’s report released in March found that Labor had misused $388,000 in taxpayer funds by paying electorate staffers, known collectively as the "red shirts", to carry out political campaigning before the 2014 election. Labor has repaid all of that money. Loading Mr Ashton agreed the public would have a right to know if there had been political interference in the investigation, dubbed Operation Ocotillo. "After today’s article, I will ask the Deputy Commissioner [Shane Patton] ... and I’ll get his reassurance on that," Mr Ashton told radio 3AW’s Neil Mitchell on Thursday morning. A source familiar with the investigation said the taskforce had been "set up to fail", after repeated interference from high-ranking officers.

Some of the directives appear to be inconsistent with standard police procedure and have significantly weakened the cases against the MPs. Mr Ashton said he did not have any knowledge of political interference. "I’m not sure who it is that’s saying that or why they are saying that … certainly there's been nothing that I’ve been putting any pressure on," he said. “No politician certainly has attempted to put me under pressure.” Asked about the red shirts scandal during a press conference on Thursday, Mr Andrews said: “I’m in no position to make a comment about those ongoing matters. There is some commentary in the newspaper today. But I really can’t be drawn on that.”

Reporters also asked Mr Andrews if he was concerned in principle that an investigation had been subject to political interference. “It’s very important in any answer provided to not be dawn into a commentary in ongoing matters,” he said. “I don’t think any of us have seen any evidence to support those claims; that’s a completely hypothetical, notional matter and it’s an ongoing issue and I can’t be drawn on it.” He said Victoria had a strong police integrity office, and that those with concerns were “free to avail themselves” of its services. Mr Ashton was also asked on Thursday about the involvement of his chief of staff Brett Curran, who served as Mr Andrews’ chief of staff during his time as opposition leader. He said Mr Curran recused himself from any discussions about government-related investigations.

The Age also revealed on Thursday that detectives from the Ocotillo taskforce were told not to arrest former Labor treasurer John Lenders, who was identified in a damning ombudsman's report as the architect of the scheme to rort the public purse to pay electorate officers before the 2014 election. Despite his key role in the affair, no brief on Mr Lenders has been submitted to the OPP. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. Credit:AAP Police investigators have been unable to apply for the mobile phone records of those MPs under investigation, which would indicate who they had spoken to at the time of the alleged offending. Mr Ashton also said he was unsure if politicians' mobile phone records or computers had been searched.

The Ocotillo taskforce has also been unable to obtain almost 90,000 documents from the ombudsman's investigation. Last month, The Age reported that Labor MPs targeted by the "red shirts" investigation had refused to be interviewed by detectives. The same officers were told that if MPs did present for interviews, they were not to be searched, photographed or have their fingerprints taken. Mr Aston said that he was not aware of any such recommendations . "All I’ve ever said on that case is to go through the usual processes," he said.

Mr Ashton said he was unaware of any inquiry into leaks from officers working on the investigation. “I haven’t asked whether there is or not, but I’m not aware of any that Professional Standards Command are doing into that,” he said. Mr Ashton said he was also unaware of any complaints from officers involved in the investigation, or from Professional Standards command, concerning political interference. The Age does not suggest that Mr Ashton has interfered with the investigation. Shadow Attorney General John Pesutto said the investigation should have been completed before the election.