Tuesday, 2 May 2023

Questions without notice and ministers statements

Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (13:34): (105) My question is to the Attorney-General. Minister, just over a week ago IBAC tabled a special report known as Operation Daintree, which investigated the alleged procurement process and awarding of a contract by DHHS to the HEF. Do you stand by the Premier’s extraordinary statement dismissing the Daintree report as ‘educational’?

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (13:34): I thank Mr Davis for his question. The matter of fact, Mr Davis, is that the report that was received from IBAC – and I join the Premier in thanking IBAC for their important work in looking into these matters – is a report that was delivered as a function of their educational functions as part of the act. Nonetheless, despite how you wish to describe the report, the commitment from the government is to give thorough consideration to the contents of that report, and that is something that cabinet has committed to do.

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (13:35): Minister, the Victorian Ombudsman has said:

It was not an educational report. It was a damning report about misconduct of ministerial advisers and ministerial responsibility for those advisers.

She said:

It was not what I would have described as … educational …

Minister, is it the government’s position that the Ombudsman is correct?

The PRESIDENT: The minister can answer as she sees fit.

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (13:35): Mr Davis, the fact remains that the report was delivered as part of IBAC’s education and prevention functions. I am not going to get into a debate about what others wish to describe this as. The fact is that the report is part of IBAC’s education and prevention functions. But I go back to my earlier answer: the government has committed to reviewing the contents of the report, the findings of the report, and giving due consideration to that report and will provide public commentary after that process has been undertaken. I am not going to get into debate on these matters with heads of other agencies.