Matthew Johnston on IBAC ‘cash-for-stacks’ raids: What will happen next?
RAIDS by anti-corruption investigators have dispelled any doubts about the seriousness of cash-for-stacks allegations against Labor operatives, writes Matthew Johnston.
Opinion
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RAIDS by anti-corruption investigators have dispelled any doubts about the seriousness of cash-for-stacks allegations against Labor operatives.
The Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission has a high bar to clear before a formal probe begins. Allegations that money was siphoned from Labor MPs’ electorate printing budgets for branch-stacking in federal electorates appear to have got it over that bar.
Senior ALP figures have been rocked by the raids on properties connected to the alleged printing scam.
Investigators seized plenty of material during two hours-long raids this week.
Some in the ALP had hoped the claims amounted to nothing more than a factional hit and that everything would die down once party preselections were over. Now they fear what is coming next.
A big question will be: how far does the saga spread?
IBAC RAIDS LABOR MEMBERS’ HOMES OVER PRINTING RORT ALLEGATIONS
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After the Speaker and Deputy Speaker were dumped over a country residence allowance rort the Andrews Government had already been battling perceptions it was filled with rorters.
Now Legislative Council deputy president Khalil Eideh — who has since stood aside from that position pending the IBAC probe — is under the pump: his office is the one that has been raided.
Eideh denies any knowledge of wrongdoing, and has given full access to his office during the investigation by parliament and now by IBAC.
Other state and federal MPs who have used the printing company in question will be hoping their invoices have been squeaky clean.
Some powerful figures, including federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and Left powerbroker Senator Kim Carr, have used it previously, although they insist all work was always above board.
Labor insiders are intrigued by the elaborate nature of the alleged scam. Some warned other branch stacking schemes could be exposed in future.
Investigators will be looking at all angles.
If they find there is substance to the whistleblowers’ claims they are likely to go on to investigate why ALP memberships were paid for and who benefited from them.
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PRINTING COMPANY SAYS IT KNOCKED BACK DODGY ‘PROPOSAL’ BY EX-VICTORIAN LABOR MP
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