Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union
Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (13:35): (583) My question is again to the Attorney-General. Attorney, Derek Christopher, the man seeking to take over the CFMEU from convicted criminal and friend of the Premier John Setka, is the subject of a police corruption investigation. Victoria Police have said that a brief of evidence is currently with the Office of Public Prosecutions, so I ask: has the Attorney been briefed about the matter?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (13:35): I thank Ms Crozier for her question. The answer to that is no.
Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (13:35): Attorney, it was reported in the media that the police investigation into Mr Christopher has been delayed because of legal issues involving the use of certain covert police powers, so I ask: do Victoria Police and our integrity agencies, for which you have responsibility, have the powers they need to investigate union corruption?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (13:36): I thank Ms Crozier for her question. There are extensive coercive powers that are provided to a range of bodies in Victoria. You are correct: most of them I have administrative responsibilities for. I have a very limited role in relation to how they conduct their investigations. There is nothing that has been raised with me in relation to any barriers to covert operations in the manner that you have described.