Thursday, 9 March 2023

Questions without notice and ministers statements

Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:02): (73) President, going to that issue that you have just been speaking about, my question is directed to the Attorney-General. Attorney, in today’s media it is reported that Victoria’s former IBAC Commissioner the Honourable Robert Redlich has accused the Andrews Labor government of revenge attacks in retaliation for a series of probes into its dealings. How does the Attorney-General determine that IBAC is afforded the respect and freedom to act as an independent entity to expose corruption when an esteemed former IBAC Commissioner states that he witnessed this corruption by government members of the Integrity and Oversight Committee?

The PRESIDENT: I am concerned, Ms Crozier, that it might be asking for an opinion. Can I bother you to read it out again, if that is okay?

Georgie CROZIER: In today’s media it is reported that Victoria’s former IBAC Commissioner the Honourable Robert Redlich has accused the Andrews Labor government of revenge attacks in retaliation for a series of probes into its dealings. So the question to the Attorney is: how does the Attorney determine that IBAC is afforded the respect and freedom to act as an independent entity to expose corruption when a former esteemed IBAC Commissioner states that he witnessed this corruption by government members of the Integrity and Oversight Committee?

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:04): Ms Crozier, you are confusing my role with the role of a parliamentary committee which has a statutory function in relation to oversight of the IBAC. The IBAC and its functions are provided for under legislation, and that guides the roles and responsibilities of that office. There is also oversight of that body from the Victorian Inspectorate. Of course Mr Redlich in his capacity as former IBAC Commissioner met regularly with me, and it is fair to say, as you would appreciate given his public commentary, that he was not shy in bringing forward his views in relation to his office. Any requests that he made in relation to legislative changes – all of those – were acted on and presented to the department for advice, and I continue to have ongoing conversations with senior officials at IBAC on a regular basis in relation to how they undertake their functions.

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:05): Thanks, Attorney, for that response. As you have just said, you do have regular conversations, so I do think you have oversight of this. Mr Redlich stated:

IBAC’s experience with the IOC, particularly in the last twelve months, evidences a lack of fairness, partisanship and leaking of information to the media.

Attorney, what is the government doing? Government MPs directed the independent auditors to ‘find dirt on IBAC and data that is not readily publicly available’. What are you doing? Are you outraged? I am. What are you doing as a government, as the Attorney? Government MPs have directed the independent auditors to ‘find dirt on IBAC and data that is not readily publicly available’.

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:06): Ms Crozier, from what I can take from the words that you used in that question you are referring to a parliamentary committee, which as the Attorney-General I do not have a role in relation to. But any suggestion that anyone in the government has acted inappropriately is utterly rejected.