Allan government issues response to scathing corruption probe into Andrews government

The Allan government will overhaul lobbying laws and update the code of conduct for ministers after a damning IBAC report into the Andrews government — but it has refused two key recommendations.

Lobbying laws will be overhauled in Victoria, and the code of conduct for ministers and their staff updated as part of the Allan government’s long-awaited response to a report by the state’s corruption watchdog which revealed a lack of integrity and transparency within former Premier Daniel Andrews’ office.

The state government announced on Tuesday it would accept nine of the 17 recommendations made by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission in full, which came from its Operation Daintree report handed down in April.

OPERATION DAINTREE EXPLAINED

The government will move to update the code of conduct for minsters, and their staff and improving integrity training as part of the overhaul.

The Department of Health will also look at improving its procurement processes.

However, controversially, two key recommendations have been rejected.

These include the call for ministerial advisers to be able to be called before investigative parliamentary committees.

Jacinta Allan says the changes should give Victorians more confidence in the government. Picture: Valeriu Campan

The government has also refused to consult with IBAC on legislation that will carry out any recommendations they’ve made. The government warned this would breach Cabinet in Confidence rules.

A further seven of the recommendations are still being considered by the state with some addressed already in recent changes.

Premier Jacinta Allan said the changes should give Victorians more confidence in the government.

“Good governments rely on public servants giving frank and fearless advice – these reforms will build on our work to ensure all those who serve the Victorian people understand their roles and responsibilities,” she said.

Former IBAC commissioner Robert Redlich says the report does not absolve Daniel Andrews and his office of wrongdoing. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Operation Daintree was a secret probe by the (IBAC), into how improper influence compromised a $1.2m contract awarded to the Health Education Federation, a division of the Health Workers Union, by Andrews government advisers.

The final report by the IBAC was damning ruling that a competitive procurement process had not been followed.

It suspected a ministerial adviser working in the health minister’s office pressured DHHS staff to award the contract to the HEF despite the union was not a suitable supplier to carry out the work.

It also warned that the “conduct by senior public servants falls short of the required Victorian public sector standards.”

Speaking after the release of IBAC’s Operation Daintree report before he retired, Mr Andrews publicly said the watchdog made no findings of corruption.

The then Commissioner Robert Redlich, later blasted the comments saying the report did not absolve Mr Andrews and his office of wrongdoing there was simply no evidence that could meet the threshold of corruption.

Originally published as Allan government issues response to scathing corruption probe into Andrews government