Questions without notice and ministers statements
Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union
Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (13:23): (581) My question is to the Attorney-General. Attorney, the Age, 60 Minutes and the Australian Financial Review’s recent investigation exposed that CFMEU officials had demanded secret commissions from building contractors in order to obtain a union EBA and operate on the Victorian government’s Big Build projects. Attorney, can you guarantee that Victorian taxpayers have not funded – directly or indirectly – any illegal secret commissions to the corrupt CFMEU?
The PRESIDENT: I think obviously ministers can answer questions relating to the responsibilities of their portfolios. I am not too sure if that would fall within her remit. Would you like to try and rephrase it? Obviously ministers will answer questions as far as their responsibilities to their portfolios go on any and all stakeholders.
Georgie CROZIER: Attorney, the question is around the investigations exposed by those media outlets. Given that it took journalists to expose it and there are other integrity agencies that you have responsibility for, can you guarantee that Victorian taxpayers have not funded – directly or indirectly – any illegal secret commissions to the corrupt CFMEU?
The PRESIDENT: Minister, within her portfolio.
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (13:25): Ms Crozier, I will attempt to be helpful. Of course where any allegations of criminal behaviour by the CFMEU, or any other party for that matter, have been raised, they have been referred to the appropriate authorities. You have asked about my involvement or my ability to give you a guarantee in relation to criminal investigations. I as Attorney-General do not conduct investigations. Any illegal activity would be a matter for Victoria Police. Any matters that allege corruption may fall within the remit of IBAC. I do not play a role in investigations, as is appropriate. These are independent bodies, and if any matter had come to my attention that needed to be referred to them, I would have. But I will pre-empt any question in that regard: no matter has been raised with me to put me in a position where I would make such a referral.
Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (13:26): Attorney, you are the first legal officer of this state. You do have responsibility in the issues that I have raised around corruption. In relation to the illegal secret commissions demanded by corrupt CFMEU officials for building contractors to operate on Victorian Big Build projects, I ask: why did it take journalists to expose this illegal conduct rather than the state’s integrity agencies, for which you have responsibility?
The PRESIDENT: I am concerned it is asking for an opinion –
Members interjecting.
The PRESIDENT: The minister will answer as she sees fit, within her portfolio.
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (13:27): I am in a position to reaffirm my previous answer: it is appropriate that any criminal allegations be put to Victoria Police, and it is up to Victoria Police to conduct their work in that regard. Any allegations in relation to corruption would be a matter for Victoria Police. It would be very inappropriate for the Attorney-General to direct the operation of Victoria Police. In the way you have categorised your question, you are suggesting that as first law officer of this state I should tell IBAC how to do their work. That would actually be corrupt. I refuse to be a corrupt Attorney-General.