Andrews Government to audit own ministers’ mobile phones for leaks

LABOR MPs are bewildered by Premier Daniel Andrews’s decision to forensically audit his own ministers’ mobile phones for leaks.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. Picture: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

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LABOR MPs are bewildered by Premier Daniel Andrews’s decision to forensically audit his own ministers’ mobile phones for leaks, saying it ­torpedos his own message to “focus on the big issues”.

Some ministers may refuse to comply with the demand to hand in their phones due to concerns about privacy.

Several refused to comment publicly on the bizarre order, saying they could not comment on Cabinet matters.

But privately, some ministers and Labor MPs have expressed dismay, with one saying it “makes (the Premier) look a bit small”.

As revealed by the Herald Sun, Mr Andrews told Cabinet the audit would be conducted by consultants to try to establish who leaked a police numbers announcement to 3AW’s Neil Mitchell.

Ministers immediately leaked the premier’s plan to audit the phones, with one saying: “Everyone was going, ‘WTF just happened?’.”

Leader of the Opposition Matthew Guy. Picture: Mark Stewart

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy seized on the ­implosion yesterday.

“This is an extraordinary vote of no confidence in the government by its own Premier. If he can’t trust his own team, why should we?’’ Mr Guy said.

“In almost 30 years in politics, I have never seen a leader express such a public vote of no confidence in his own team.”

It is still unclear how or when the audit will proceed, with one minister saying there had been no details provided by the Premier.

Some ministers also still have parliamentary phones, which could be covered by privilege, while others may have more than one phone.

A senior Labor source said the move to audit phones was particularly bizarre as there was no way to prove leaks based on phone records.

At a press conference yesterday, Sport Minister John Eren said all ministers “get frustrated from time to time” but said that should not be an excuse to leak from Cabinet. He would not say if he would hand in his phone for the audit.

In answer to six questions on the issue at a separate press conference, Creative Industries Minister Martin Foley also said he would not comment on Cabinet matters.

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