Ex-IBAC chief may be grilled over Andrews government corruption claims

Former IBAC commissioner Robert Redlich could be called before parliament to lift the lid on his fears of corruption inside the Andrews government.

Former anti-corruption commissioner Robert Redlich could be called before parliament to lift the lid on his concerns of corruption inside the Andrews government.

Under options being canvassed by the state opposition, Mr Redlich and other key witnesses would be called in a bid to prove claims of government interference over the parliament’s Integrity and Oversight Committee.

In an extraordinary letter obtained by the Herald Sun this week, Mr Redlich accused the government of launching revenge attacks on IBAC in retaliation for probes into its dealings.

Among the more serious allegations made in the letter is that government MPs on the IOC directed independent auditors Callida Consulting to “find dirt on IBAC and data that is not readily publicly available”.

He also condemned the government for corrupting parliament’s process for monitoring the watchdog.

Options contemplated by the opposition include Mr Redlich, Callida Consulting and former Labor-majority IOC chair Dustin Halse being called to testify before an upper house select committee.

That option is seen as the most realistic given the opposition is in a position to win a vote to establish the committee.

It would need the support of the four upper house Greens MPs and at least three crossbenchers. But such a committee would be unable to call Daniel Andrews because he sits in the lower house.

Former IBAC Commissioner Robert Redlich could be called before parliament. Picture: AAP

Shadow Attorney-General Michael O’Brien said a full-scale investigation was needed.

“We can’t have a situation where our anti-corruption watchdog is being nobbled by the very Labor government it’s investigating,” he said.

“We need a place where all these allegations can be tested under parliamentary privilege.

“We need former commissioner Redlich to be able to speak freely, we need the independent auditors to be able to speak freely.

“There must be a full inquiry, and it must offer complete protection to those giving evidence.”

Mr O’Brien also warned “all hell will break loose” if Mr Redlich’s replacement is a Labor-friendly appointment.

The government is currently going through a recruitment process to replace Mr Redlich, whose five-year term finished in December.

But senior integrity figures have privately expressed concern about the risk the appointment could move to downplay probes involving the government.

“The Coalition will be examining very carefully anybody who’s proposed for this role – any sense of a Labor relationship, any sense of Labor loyalties, Labor sympathies – they’ll be exposed because we cannot afford to have a Labor stooge as the IBAC commissioner,” Mr O’Brien said.

He said Victoria could not afford to have “a Labor mate who’ll go soft on Labor corruption” as the next commissioner.

“We need somebody dedicated to fighting corruption, not covering it up.”

Mr Andrews said this week he had not read Mr Redlich’s letter but denied any government wrongdoing.

“I’m not having a debate with a bloke who used to run an agency who’s apparently written a letter that I haven’t seen,” he said.

“He’s not in the parliament … You want to determine parliamentary committee membership? Well, then get yourself elected.”