Tuesday, 1 August 2023

Integrity and Oversight Committee

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (13:55): (205) My question is for the Attorney-General. I refer, Attorney, to the Integrity and Oversight Committee hearing yesterday, at which former IBAC Commissioner the Honourable Robert Redlich AM KC gave evidence and at which the four Labor members launched a coordinated attack on the Commissioner. And I therefore ask: did you, Attorney-General, or any member of your staff speak to or otherwise communicate with one or more of the Labor members of the Integrity and Oversight Committee before the hearing about the hearing?

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (13:56): I thank Mr Davis for his question, and I am aware that there was a hearing yesterday. My understanding is that the Commissioner was giving evidence in relation to the performance –

Adem Somyurek: Former Commissioner.

Jaclyn SYMES: Former Commissioner. He was being questioned about the performance of IBAC. That is a role that the IOC have. They do performance audits of our integrity agencies, and I understand that Mr Redlich was invited to be a witness for that despite the fact he no longer holds that position. So it is obvious that the statements he made were informed with experience but made as a private citizen. I knew that it was occurring, because I had heard through a member of the committee that it was happening, and that is the extent of the conversation in relation to ‘there are hearings coming up’, but it mimicked what was reported in the media.

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (13:57): I thank the Attorney-General for her response, and I ask: Attorney, did you or anyone in your office assist, after you were informed, in the extraordinary attack on Mr Redlich or otherwise facilitate the attack on the IBAC Commissioner?

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (13:57): The commentary is an extraordinary opinion that you may hold, Mr Davis. The matter that you speak of is a matter for the committee. The questions that they ask are a matter for personal committee members, and I did not have a role in participating in the committee, nor should I.