Liberal leader John Pesutto moves to suspend parliamentary debate

A state’s parliament has erupted into chaos amid efforts to divert attention to a newly unearthed scandal.

Victoria’s state parliament has erupted into chaos following efforts to suspend parliamentary debate and divert attention to a newly unearthed scandal.

In a fiery Question Time, Opposition Leader John Pesutto attempted to debate the dramatic allegations about former Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) commissioner Robert Redlich, revealed on Thursday morning.

But Premier Daniel Andrews slapped down any suggestions his government was hampered by corruption.

“I’m not having a debate with a bloke who used to do a job, who’s written a letter I haven’t seen,” Mr Andrews said.

“I absolutely reject any suggestion by him or anybody else that the government does not behave appropriately. The government does behave appropriately. There are no findings to the contrary.”

Victorian premier Daniel Andrews slapped down any suggestions his government was hampered by corruption. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Aaron Francis

The letter, penned late last year and revealed in Thursday’s Herald Sun, detailed how the outgoing IBAC chair alleged the government allowed “partisan politics” into the workings of the committee.

Mr Redlich also alleged government MPs interfered with an independent audit and instructed to “find dirt on IBAC and data that is not readily publicly available”.

“IBAC was advised that the IOC (Integrity and Oversight Committee) is looking for evidence to support a narrative that ‘IBAC is not performing’,” Mr Redlich wrote.

“What is most concerning is that it appears that the Chair and majority of the IOC Audit Sub-Committee seemed intent on casting IBAC in a negative light, for what we can only assume were political reasons relating to the work undertaken by IBAC.”

However, Mr Andrews continued to reject the importance of the claims raised by Mr Redlich, whose post ended in December.

“He’s got a view. He’s not in the parliament. He didn’t stand for election. He’s not part of the government, or part of a majority or a member of the House,” Mr Andrews said.

Opposition Leader John Pesutto during question time at Victorian Parliament. Picture NCA NewsWire / Aaron Francis

“Other people are, and those decisions have already been made. You want to determine parliamentary committee membership? Well, then get yourself elected.”

Mr Andrews has been linked to four IBAC probes during his time as Premier.

IBAC investigations during Mr Andrews’ reign have concerned Victorian Labor’s employment of campaign organisers as casual electorate officers in 2014, a misuse of parliament’s budget known as “red shirts” which required Labor to repay $387,000, as well as a separate investigation into widespread branch stacking in Victorian Labor.

The Premier was cleared of involvement in the red shirts-related probe.

IBAC has also probed a pay deal and reform package the Andrews government negotiated with the United Firefighters Union. Its findings are yet to be released.

Another IBAC investigation involved a developer being probed into whether political donations and bribes were used to solicit favourable planning decisions in Melbourne’s southeast.

Originally published as Liberal leader John Pesutto moves to suspend parliamentary debate