Government accountability
Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) (18:38): (1880) My question for the Premier is to ask why ministerial responsibility has been delegated to anonymous spokespersons under this government. When the Herald Sun reported on land tax defaults in November last year, with thousands of Victorians refusing to pay their spiralling land tax bills, the response was provided by a government spokesperson. Another news story that focused on the bungled rollout of the container deposit scheme quoted a spokesperson for the state government. In January this year when the Age reported on the $12 billion Treasurer’s advances, it was a government spokesperson that was quoted. Another news report focused on independent schools being caught up in payroll tax, and it was a state government spokesperson that responded. In April this year when the Bendigo Advertiser reported that flood victims were homeless and felt abandoned, a Victorian government spokesperson was quoted for the response. In July, when questions were raised because the state government slashed the number of dangerously poor roads across Victoria without any proof, it was a government spokesperson that responded. In another news article that focused on the lack of federal funding for the Suburban Rail Loop, it was a government spokesperson that provided the response. It seems to me that the Labor state government ministers are very good at outsourcing their responsibilities. And to avoid being the bearer of bad news, they hide behind an anonymous spokesperson – a spokesperson with no authority and no accountability. I commend the Liberal and National shadow cabinet ministers, who do the work, know the brief and respond to media inquiries, who take responsibility. On our side we put our name to public comments, unlike Labor, who rely on anonymous spokespersons to provide media commentary.
The action I seek is for this government to step up and for ministers to take responsibility for the decisions made and stop hiding behind anonymous spokespersons. I also hope the media take note and start holding this government and its ministers to account for their actions and stop permitting them to hide behind anonymous spokespersons.