Daniel Andrews tight-lipped after revelations of corruption probe

Matthew Guy is calling for Victorians to vote out Dan Andrews saying “leopards don’t change their spots” as the Premier faces questions over a corruption probe.

Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy says Victoria is experiencing an “integrity crisis”, warning it is “unprecedented” for a state government to be probed by the corruption watchdog on four separate occasions.

With just 10 days before the polls open for the state election, Premier Daniel Andrews is facing questions over his involvement in government grants provided to the Health Workers Union on the eve of the 2018 election.

The Herald Sun first revealed on Thursday the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission was investigating a $1.2m grant provided to the union in October 2018. It is the fourth corruption probe Mr Andrews has been linked to.

The Liberal Party leader said Victorian voters deserved a government they could trust, but said the only way to achieve that was to vote Daniel Andrews out on November 26.

“Leopards don’t change their spots. The only way we’re going to get a government of integrity is to change the government,” he said.

“This is not the first, it’s not the second, it’s not third, it is in fact the fourth time this government has been investigated by the anti-corruption commission.

“That is unprecedented. Victorians deserve a government they can trust.

“If you want a clean government, a government not mired in scandal or corruption, then we have to change the government.”

Mr Guy on Saturday again spruiked his plan to expand the powers of IBAC, as well as rehashing his pledge to give the organisation an initial $20m boost within its first budget.

Matthew Guy is calling for Victorians to vote out the Andrews government Picture: David Geraghty

“The only way to fix the integrity crisis in this state is to have a government that wants to fix it,” he said.

“We want the IBAC to be able to do its job properly,” he said.

“You have to ask yourself – why is Daniel Andrews and the Labor government seeking not to give the anti-corruption commission extra power and extra money to do their job.”

In a statement on Friday night, IBAC said it wanted to make it an offence for people who publish information obtained in draft reports.

Daniel Andrews was on Saturday asked if a re-elected Labor government would consider such a call from IBAC.

“I certainly wouldn’t rule out changes to the law at some point but I’m not here to make any announcements,” he said.

Asked the same question, Mr Guy said he didn’t want to make any legislative change that would prevent journalists from reporting facts.

“There is a right of the press to report these matters,” he said.

“It doesn’t always suit politicians but frankly the press has a job to do, and they should be able to do it without that legal threat.

“I think press freedom is very important.

“I don’t want to pursue any legislative change that makes it more difficult to report facts in this state.”

Meanwhile, on Saturday the Premier issued a statement maintaining he acts appropriately “at all times and in all things” after revelations he has been questioned in the fresh corruption probe.

Mr Andrews said: “Regardless of any smear, innuendo or media reporting based on anonymous sources, the only IBAC matters I will comment on are those that are the subject of a final report — as is appropriate and has always been my practice.

“Questions about what IBAC is or is not doing are a matter for the independent agency.

“I act appropriately at all times and in all things.

“That is the oath I swore and I take it very seriously.”

In the latest investigation IBAC is probing funding awarded to the HWU on the eve of the 2018 election, and just a week after a program grant was first announced.

It formed part of a multimillion-dollar package for the training of hospital staff against occupational violence that was announced a week before the government went into caretaker mode.

Mr Andrews refused to answer questions about the probe on Friday. Asked if he, or any of his staff, had been interviewed by IBAC he said only: “What IBAC is or isn’t doing, who they have or haven’t spoken to is a matter for them. You will need to speak to them.”

Daniel Andrews refused to answer questions about the probe on Friday. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

But on Saturday, the opposition’s spokeswoman for scrutiny, Louise Staley, said the Premier had some “serious questions he must answer”.

“With the publication of the details surrounding this investigation, Daniel Andrews can no longer hide behind “that is a matter for IBAC” defence,” she said.

The questions Ms Staley has put to the Premier are:

• Were you as Premier interviewed by IBAC as part of Operation Daintree?

• Were any of your staff interviewed by IBAC as part of Operation Daintree?

• Did Diana Asmar lobby you and your staff for funding for the $1.2m?

• Did you and or your staff meet Diana Asmar in early October prior to announcing the extra $2.2m?

• Was this scheme devised by the Health Workers Union rather than the Department of Health?

• Was the first tranche of the scheme entered into without going through a competitive tender programme?

• Why did you announce an extra $2.2m for the scheme before the first payment had been finalised?

• Is it appropriate for ministerial advisers to broker deals between your office and a union for funds?

• Did the Department advise against the scheme at any point?

Opposition spokeswoman for scrutiny Louise Staley. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

It is the third confirmed time Mr Andrews has been questioned in anti-corruption hearings since coming to power in 2014.

Relations between the Andrews government and the HWU had been rocky during Labor’s first term. Labor sources said it was in the interest of the government to avoid a public feud with the union during the election campaign.

The training program did not proceed past mid-2020, with Covid cited as contributing to the issue. But sources have told the Herald Sun that Department of Health staff were unhappy with the program. It was rolled out as a short term pilot at two hospitals but not progressed.

The reluctance of the Department to sign off on the union’s proposed training program is understood to have angered union officials.

The IBAC probe is understood to have focused on the interactions between HWU boss Diana Asmar and members of Jill Hennessy’s staff and the Premier’s office in relation to the disbursement of grants.

Questions have focused on whether public servants were influenced or encouraged to award the funding so quickly.

Matthew Guy says he is deeply concerned about the revelations. Picture: David Caird

The grant was awarded to the Health Education Federation, a business which lists HWU secretary Diana Asmar as a director.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy on Friday said he was deeply concerned by the revelations.

“Victoria can’t afford another four years of a Premier and his government mired in corruption, like the Andrews government,” he said.

Ms Asmar in a statement said the union was not in a position to comment about any matter dealing with any inquiry. But she defended the training program, saying it was vital for frontline health workers.

“Violence against health workers is real, and it was entirely appropriate for the Premier to support this much-needed initiative of the Health Workers Union,” she said.

Reason Party leader Fiona Patten said Victorians should know if Daniel Andrews was being probed.

“Yet again, it probably shows our public interest test is not hitting the mark as far as our integrity bodies are concerned,” she said.

Former employees of the Premier are understood to have been interviewed. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

$1.2m union contract at centre of rort probe

Victoria’s anti-corruption commission has been investigating a training contract worth $1.2m which was awarded to a union ahead of the 2018 state election.

The Herald Sun has been told IBAC has been probing the contract awarded to a training organisation ­controlled by the Health Workers’ Union.

It is understood former employees of the then health minister Jill Hennessy and Premier Daniel Andrews were among many government staff interviewed.

The money was intended to provide security training for staff at hospitals.

The training program commenced but was later suspended during the pandemic.

The fund was announced by the Premier on October 23, 2018, shortly before the government went into caretaker mode.

The probe is the fourth IBAC investigation to touch Mr Andrews, who has given evidence in the Casey Council probe and over allegations of Labor branch-stacking. He has allegedly also been quizzed as part of the probe into the fire ­services.

On the campaign trail on Thursday, Mr Andrews said he wouldn’t rule out changes to the state’s anti-corruption body in future.

Former employees of Jill Hennessy are understood to have been interviewed. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Asked if Victorians had a right to know what active investigations were being undertaken by IBAC, Mr Andrews said: “What IBAC is or isn’t doing is a matter for them.”

“They’re an independent agency, and they’re the ones who would make a judgment like that,” he added.

“It’s absolutely a matter for them. There’s an Act, and the Act operates, and what they are or aren’t doing is absolutely an issue for them.”

Asked if he would consider moving towards a New South Wales-style anti-corruption body, he said: “We have discussions with all of our integrity agencies. That’s how funding for integrity agencies has grown so substantially – by sitting down and talking, there’s been changes to the law.

“There may well be changes at a future point. That’s what that dialogue is all about.”

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said Victorians had to ask questions about the number of corruption probes involving the government.

“There is a clear stench around this Premier and this government, we know that,” he said. “They’ve been the subject of at least three corruption commission investigations.

“I do know that our integrity agencies, such as the anti-corruption commission, need to have strong powers.”

The HWU has been contacted for comment.