Vic MP Shaw happy charges dropped All dishonesty charges against Victorian balance of power MP Geoff Shaw have been dropped, avoiding the prospect of him losing his seat if convicted of a crime. "I am pleased that all the charges against me have been withdrawn," Mr Shaw said on Tuesday. Today's announcement enables me to continue my passionate advocacy for my home - the electorate of Frankston - without distraction. The Liberal-turned-independent MP was facing 23 charges of obtaining financial advantage by deception and one count of misconduct in public office over the alleged misuse of his parliamentary fuel card and car throughout 2011. Director of Public Prosecutions John Champion SC said he withdrew the charges after deciding there was not a reasonable prospect of criminal conviction in the matter. Mr Champion had consented to a defence application for the matter to go to the magistrates court diversion program. But Magistrate Charlie Rozencwajg a fortnight ago rejected the agreement that would have allowed Mr Shaw, who holds the balance of power in the Victorian lower house, to avoid a guilty finding and therefore be allowed to keep his seat. Defence lawyers and prosecutors had agreed that Mr Shaw be put on a diversion program and avoid conviction if he accepted responsibility for a single charge of obtaining financial advantage of deception. But Mr Rozencwajg ruled that a diversion program was not suitable, and Mr Shaw's lawyers said he would plead not guilty to the 24 original charges. If a guilty finding had been made against Mr Shaw and the independent MP lost his seat, a by-election would have been held in Frankston ahead of the state-wide poll on November 29. Parliament's privileges committee is still investigating Mr Shaw's alleged misuse of his taxpayer-funded vehicle and fuel entitlements, though it had suspended the probe while the matter was before the courts. Deputy Opposition Leader James Merlino said, after a scathing ombudsman's report into the matter, it was a very convenient decision for Mr Shaw and Premier Denis Napthine that the only penalty would come from parliament. "Most Victorians will think that something stinks about this decision," he told reporters. How can it be right that the only sanction Geoff Shaw will receive is a wet-lettuce slap on the wrist from a parliamentary committee dominated by his Liberal mates. Ombudsman George Brouwer found Mr Shaw used, and allowed others to use, his parliamentary vehicle for commercial use and used his parliamentary fuel card to buy petrol for a private car on one occasion. The ombudsman found Mr Shaw may be in contempt of parliament or may have breached parliamentary privilege. Corrections Minister Edward O'Donohue said the decision not to proceed with charges was made by an independent body. The DPP is independent of government and it's made its decision based on the material at its hand. He does not expect Mr Shaw will return to the parliamentary Liberal Party. "I think the premier has said previously very clearly, he does not anticipate any situation where Geoff Shaw would come back into the parliamentary Liberal Party," Mr O'Donohue said.