Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews won’t comment on shocking anti-corruption watchdog leak

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has been grilled about a scathing anti-corruption report focused on the Labor Party.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has refused to comment after a shocking report revealed he has been investigated by the state’s anti-corruption watchdog over the Labor Party’s culture issues.

An article published by Nine News on Thursday revealed details from an interim draft report from the Victoria’s Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC) investigation into the party, dubbed Operation Watts.

A culture problem has reportedly been found in the ALP where a misuse of public resources and branch stacking was encouraged.

Mr Andrews was reportedly privately called in by IBAC as part of its investigation, though he refused to confirm this or comment on the report when he was repeatedly grilled by the media on Thursday.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews repeatedly refused to comment on the situation when speaking to the media on Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

“I‘m not making any comments about these matters unless and until the final report is handed down,” Mr Andrews said.

“This process is not finished. When it is finished, we will be able to talk about it.

“This is real, it is detailed, it‘s happening, it’s not yet finished. When it is finished, we’ll be able to talk about it.”

Mr Andrews and other senior Labor figures reportedly acknowledged in the report that “significant cultural reform is required within the ALP”.

Operation Watts, a joint investigation by IBAC and Victoria’s Ombudsman, was started back in 2020 after allegations of branch stacking and corruption by ex-minister Adem Somyurek and his allies in the Moderate Labor political faction.

Mr Somyurek was quickly dumped by Labor and the matter was referred to IBAC by Mr Andrews.

Disgraced minister Adem Somyurek was dumped by Labor after allegations of branch stacking within the party came to light. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

But the interim report found “these unethical practices are embedded within the (Victorian Labor) branch and are systemic to all of the factions”.

It said these issues had been condoned or encouraged for years by leaders within the party, with Mr Andrews reportedly acknowledging it likely went beyond Moderate Labor.

Mr Somyurek has commented on the report, saying it being leaked is a “denial of procedural fairness” and questioning why Mr Andrews was not questioned publicly.

IBAC has leaked throughout the two year process, todays leak is IBAC sticking d middle finger up at its own legislation which seeks to guarantee natural justice. IBACs drop of its report before those mentioned in report have a chance to respond is a denial of procedural fairness

— Adem Somyurek MP (@AdemSomyurek) April 27, 2022

If Dan was grilled by IBAC why wasn’t it done publicly. Dan knows a lot about branch stacking & SL operatives organising the SL from MPs including ministers offices. The threshold question is did IBAC investigate Dans faction? Don’t be fooled by todays drop IBAC is protecting Dan

— Adem Somyurek MP (@AdemSomyurek) April 28, 2022

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy has called for Mr Andrews to resign.

“He should stand down. He has presided over a culture of corruption, he cannot be trusted to fix this mess,” he said.

“How can you trust Daniel Andrews to fix our state when the corruption watchdog has found Labor is rotten to the core?”

Originally published as Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews won’t comment on shocking anti-corruption watchdog leak