Theo Theophanous, a senior minister in the Victorian government, has stood aside, pending the outcome of a police investigation into allegations against him.
Theophanous is the Minister for Industry and Trade, Major Projects, and Information and Communication Technology.
He is one of the members for Northern Metropolitan Province in the Legislative Council. He was first elected to the upper house in 1998.
Theophanous did not reveal the nature of the police investigation when he read a prepared statement to the media.