IBAC funding shortfalls still not addressed by government: commissioner
The head of the state’s anti-corruption commission says a surge in demand for its work has not been matched by more government funding — despite a string of high profile cases including probes into Casey Council and the Labor Party.
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The head of the state’s anti-corruption commission says a surge in demand for its work has not been matched by more government funding.
In rare public comments about resources provided to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission, Robert Redlich QC said he had raised the issue previously but it had still not been resolved.
“The ability of IBAC to meet the growing demands and expectations of parliament and the people of Victoria depends upon on the resources, as well as powers, at our disposal,” the commissioner writes in the agency’s quarterly update.
“I remain concerned that IBAC has not received any increase to its recurring budget since its inception in 2012, and this must be addressed.”
The IBAC has experienced a growing list of cases in the past two years including probes into planning corruption at Casey Council, multiple branch stacking operations within the Labor Party, and problems in the state’s troubled fire services.
State MPs are aware of budgetary constraints, but some Labor MPs have insisted the IBAC has sufficient resources — despite Mr Redlich’s comments.
Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien said funding shortfalls were a concern and “it is imperative the body responsible for rooting out corruption in government is properly funded”.
“Last year the Andrews Labor Government refused to back a bipartisan report demanding strengthened powers and resources for the anti-corruption watchdog,” he said.
“Given the array of scandals that Daniel Andrews’ Government has been involved with, you have to ask if the Premier’s refusal to beef-up IBAC is a matter of self-protection?”
The IBAC last year spent $43.7 million on its corruption-busting investigations and preventive measures, up from $39.7 million the previous year.
One of its largest inquiries was into allegations of systemic corruption at Casey Council, which has now been sacked, in Melbourne’s southeast.
It uncovered payments worth about $1.2 million from developer John Woodman to two councillors, Sam Aziz and Geoff Ablett.
Both men deny wrongdoing, but hearings were told they did not properly disclose their conflicts of interest on multiple occasions.
Mr Aziz travelled to Egypt late last year and claims he has not been able to return to defend himself due to ill health.
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