Election attack ad ban blocked by Andrews Government

Taxpayer-funded election attack ads won’t be banned, despite a $1.7 million spend by the Andrews Government last year. The move, by Labor and independent MPs, defies recommendations by Victoria’s corruption watchdog.

The plan was defeated in state parliament. Picture: File image

The move to ban taxpayer-funded election attack ads has been defeated by the Andrews Government in the state parliament — despite calls to tighten the laws by Victoria’s anti-corruption watchdogs.

A private member’s bill put up by Shadow Attorney-General Edward O’Donohue aimed to prevent a repeat of the Andrews Government’s $1.7 million taxpayer-funded “Victoria’s fair share of funding from Canberra” ads.

Legislative Council Labor MPs joined with Animal Justice Party MP Andy Meddick and Independent MP Catherine Cumming to avoid making changes to the Public Administration Amendment Bill 2019.

Andy Meddick MP voted against the change. AAP Image/James Ross

MP Catherine Cumming. Picture: David Crosling

The move to shutdown the bill has outraged members, especially after Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass and IBAC commissioner Robert Redlich delivered a joint finding in August that the spending was “at odds” with the intent of state law.

“We consider that the timing and content of the campaign advertisements would have had the effect of influencing public sentiment against the government of the Commonwealth,” they wrote to Premier Daniel Andrews last month.

The watchdog chiefs said the law needed to be changed to “reinforce the importance of an apolitical public sector and to advance the wider public ­interest”, prompting Mr O’Donohue’s bill.

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Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien said it was outrageous.

“Daniel Andrews had a choice today; either back the Ombudsman and the anti-corruption watchdog or continue Labor’s rorting of public money for political gain. The Premier chose to keep rorting,” he said.

“In defying the Ombudsman and IBAC, Daniel Andrews has displayed an arrogance which is dangerous for Victoria. Despite the independent watchdogs demanding changes to the law to stop partisan rorting, the Premier put Labor’s political interests before the public interest.

“Victorians should be very afraid about what this arrogant Premier will do next.”

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