Tuesday, 10 May 2022

Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission

Mr DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan—Leader of the Opposition) (13:24): My question is to the Attorney-General. I refer to your responsibility under the administrative orders for IBAC and note the need for proper parliamentary scrutiny and oversight of independent officers, and I refer specifically to the decision by the chair of the Integrity and Oversight Committee, Harriet Shing, to close down public questioning of the IBAC Commissioner, Robert Redlich, yesterday, effectively gagging debate. I therefore ask: is it government policy or was it a government direction that questions regarding the Premier’s secret evidence to IBAC be blocked, or was Ms Shing acting as a lone ranger?

The PRESIDENT: I do not know, Mr Davis, if I can allow your question. The question is about the committee, and I do not know how the Attorney-General—committees have their own—

Members interjecting.

Mr Davis: On a point of order, President, the question specifically asked whether there was a government direction or whether it was government policy or whether Ms Shing was acting as a lone ranger. There are two possibilities here. The government can rule out that it had given directions, and that will tell us that Ms Shing was acting alone.

The PRESIDENT: I am still struggling with it, but I call the Attorney-General.

Ms SYMES (Northern Victoria—Leader of the Government, Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (13:26): Thank you, President. Taking your guidance, I believe that there is a very confined answer I can provide to Mr Davis. Frankly, you are not interested in the answer, because you know there is only one question that was contained in your verbal diarrhoea of wanting to slag off a member of this place, and the only question that is appropriate for me to answer is whether I, in my role as Attorney-General or otherwise, gave any direction to a parliamentary committee member, whether they be a chair or otherwise. And, frankly, no.

Mr DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan—Leader of the Opposition) (13:27): Minister, it is critical to democracy that these committees are open, and the IBAC Commissioner was certainly prepared to answer questions. I therefore ask: will you counsel Ms Shing, who should know better, that it is not good practice to in future—

The PRESIDENT: Mr Davis, this has got nothing to do with your question and the answer.

Ms Symes: On a point of order, President, I would ask whether it is possible for you to review the questions that Mr Davis wants to put to this house, because they are inappropriate. He knows they are wrong. He has been here longer than anyone else. It is designed to put inflammatory statements on the public record, and it is completely inappropriate. In fact, Mr Davis, if you want your questions to be proper, maybe get the President to check them first.

The PRESIDENT: Mr Davis, the question was very simple. The Attorney-General has answered the question. You came back with a phrase that is not related to the question or to the answer. I am sorry, Mr Davis. I will give you another chance if you want to rephrase it; otherwise I am going to rule it out. Full stop.

Mr DAVIS: I ask the minister: is it in the interests of democracy in this state for questioning of the IBAC Commissioner to be closed down and for debate to be gagged?

The PRESIDENT: I rule it out.

Members interjecting.

Ms Symes: On a point of order, President, I would draw your attention to the comments that were just received by Ms Crozier. I think she was reflecting on the Chair.

The PRESIDENT: Thank you very much.