Vic premier says his job is safe

VICTORIAN Premier Ted Baillieu maintains his job is safe after deciding to call in anti-corruption investigators on his own office.

Mr Baillieu emerged from a Liberal party-room meeting on Tuesday morning as pressure mounted on the government following the airing of secret police tapes.

He said he was confident he would still be leader come the 2014 November state election.

"We don't talk about what we discuss in the party room," he told reporters as he emerged from the meeting.

"I don't know what commentary has been made but we are working together."

Other MPs left the meeting without speaking to reporters.

Earlier, Treasurer Kim Wells sought to ease concerns that the premier's job was under threat while Planning Minister Matthew Guy, who is widely considered a potential future leader, also voiced support for Mr Baillieu.

"I don't believe there's a crisis for the government. I think there's issues to be managed and we're going to do that," Mr Guy told ABC Radio.

Mr Baillieu had asked the anti-corruption commission to investigate secretly recorded tapes that reportedly show his chief of staff Tony Nutt had promised to help a former adviser to Deputy Premier Peter Ryan find a job.

Tristan Weston quit as adviser to Mr Ryan after the police watchdog found he was involved in a plot to bring down the former police chief, Simon Overland.

Secret tapes detailing the phone conversations, obtained by the Herald Sun, have exposed the crisis in recent days, leading to speculation that Mr Baillieu will be asked to step aside as leader.

But Mr Guy poured cold water on that speculation as he attended Tuesday's meeting.

"The party is behind Ted and we'll move on," he said.

He added that Mr Baillieu had acted appropriately by referring the secret tape involving Mr Nutt to the Independent Broad-Based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC).

"There has been situations in the past where other ministerial offices have been looked at, whether it's by the ombudsman, whether it's by a range of bodies, so I think people should take a cold shower," Mr Guy said.

He said Mr Nutt was a very experienced political player.

"Tony has certainly got the support of myself and my colleagues," he said.

Mr Guy said he was unaware the Liberal Party had paid Mr Weston $22,500 after he quit.

The Nationals later joined the Liberals for a joint meeting.

Mr Ryan and the premier entered that meeting together.

"I'll be speaking in due course," Mr Ryan said.

"All will be well."

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