Thursday, 9 March 2023

Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:17): (77) I again direct my question to the Leader of the Government. Minister, the former IBAC Commissioner stated in his letter to Presiding Officers:

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.

Will the Leader of the Government assure the Victorian community that IBAC will not be subjected to further interference from the Premier’s private office?

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:18): Ms Crozier, they are views of a former commissioner, and they are a matter for him. You have raised allegations that are not necessarily proven, and I do not have a role in directing members of the IOC in relation to how they conduct their role. The only role I had in relation to that committee was proposing a motion in this house to appoint a member of this chamber to that committee. That is the only role that I have had in relation to the operation of that committee. So, no, I will not be proposing that I interfere with a parliamentary committee’s work. That would be incredibly inappropriate.

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:19): What I want to ask the Leader of the Government again is: considering that it is the Parliament’s, in line with the former IBAC Commissioner’s letter to Presiding Officers, will the Leader of the Government, as you just said, now urgently commit to changing the make-up of the Integrity and Oversight Committee membership to include a non-government chair and majority?

The PRESIDENT: I have a serious concern that the make-up of a committee and how that committee goes about its business is not within the Attorney-General’s administration. If you want to raise a point of order, Ms Crozier, I am happy to hear it.

Georgie CROZIER: On a point of order, President, the Premier himself was asked about the make-up of the committee. So if the Premier was asked, I am asking Minister Symes, as Leader of the Government.

The PRESIDENT: Yes, but that was outside of question time. It was at a doorstop; that is my understanding.

Nicholas McGowan: On a point of order, President, the minister clearly has responsibility for the act, and the question was in respect to –

Members interjecting.

Nicholas McGowan: No, not the committee, in respect to the broad-based anti-corruption commission, and the question was in relation to that.

The PRESIDENT: I have a couple of concerns. It is the wrong act that Mr McGowan is quoting, but my other concern is that, if I set a precedent that ministers can answer questions around committee administration, which has nothing to do with them, people would be very upset if they thought that ministers had some overriding power or they determined that work. I am not going to put the question.