Thursday, 9 March 2023

Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:10): (75) My question is again to the Attorney. Attorney, in The Independent Performance Audits of the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission and the Victorian Inspectorate minority report, it is clear that the audits were not completed in a fair and independent matter. Rather, the Labor committee chair sought to interfere and direct the independent auditor, contrary to convention and public expectation. So I ask: is it government policy that the Labor-dominated Integrity and Oversight Committee has interfered in an independent audit of IBAC and the Victorian Inspectorate?

The PRESIDENT: I am struggling a bit to see where that falls inside the minister’s administration.

Georgie CROZIER: On a point of order, President, these are really serious matters. The Attorney actually has responsibility for IBAC. This goes to the heart of –

Jaclyn Symes interjected.

Georgie CROZIER: Yes, I know that, but in terms of your portfolio responsibility, you just said you have numerous conversations. This is about the integrity of what is going on in this place. I ask around what has happened on that committee, and I would say that it does fairly fall in the Attorney’s portfolio.

The PRESIDENT: I cannot see how the workings of that committee come under the Attorney-General’s responsibility. But, Ms Crozier, I am happy to put the question to the Attorney-General in regard to her responsibility for IBAC.

Georgie CROZIER: Thank you, President. If I can just reiterate, in the general order of 5 December 2022 it says the Attorney-General is responsible for the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission Act 2011, so that is why I asked the question.

The PRESIDENT: I am happy for anything relevant to the Attorney-General’s administration, if she would like to respond to the question.

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:12): Thank you, President. Matters pertaining to parliamentary committees are a matter for the Parliament.

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:12): Attorney, it is disappointing that you will not give a proper response to this serious issue, so I ask: the minority report of the performance audits recommends legislative changes to the IBAC act and the Victorian Inspectorate act to ensure absolute independence for the auditor. Will the Attorney-General support this recommendation, and when will she introduce legislation to do so?

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:13): We seem to have given a lot of weight to a minority report from politicians in relation to their views in relation to IBAC. It is of course important for me as the responsible minister to listen to IBAC and others in relation to the functioning of IBAC and about the legislation under which they are overseen and operated. Of course I have regular conversations about this, and I will continue to do so.