Outgoing Ombudsman Deborah Glass takes final whack at Daniel Andrews administration

Outgoing Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass has pulled no punches in a final report, accusing the Andrews government of squibbing its responsibilities and ruling with a culture of fear.

Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass has taken a final whack at Daniel Andrews.

Outgoing Ombudsman Deborah Glass has pulled no punches in a final report, taking one last whack at Daniel Andrews and his government on the way out.

In the report tabled on Monday Ms Glass accused the Andrews government of squibbing its responsibilities and ruling with a culture of fear.

She said her work was hindered by a perception of conflict with the government but said she refused to be bullied into submission.

In her 10 years in the job Ms Glass investigated five referrals from parliament involving the government.

Just three others have ever been made in the 50 years history of the Victorian Ombudsman’s office.

It started with an investigation of the infamous Red Shirts election rorts scandal the government tried to shut down.

Outgoing Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass refuses to be bullied into submission. Picture: AAP Image

It forced a Supreme Court legal battle from which Ms Glass emerged victorious with defined guidelines over what she could and could not investigate.

The government appealed the decision to the High Court but lost, paving the way for continued political referrals.

Ms Glass said she was frustrated by her office being used to make political referrals, but said they had exposed areas of legitimate public concern.

“I have done what I can, both to expose the subtle but dangerous impact of creeping politicisation, and to propose what I believe to be workable solutions,” she said.

“It is now up to others to hold the government to account.”

In a scathing report published in December Ms Glass found this politicisation was a consequence of the centralisation of power around Daniel Andrews’ office.

She warned Victorian public servants were being routinely undermined by a culture of fear that had corrupted the sector.

She also raised concerns about secrecy around major projects and government initiatives, singling out the controversial $125bn Suburban Rail Loop she said lacked “rigorous public sector scrutiny”.

Deborah Glass says a legacy of fear continued through the Andrews administration. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

“Some months before its release, Premier Andrews had resigned. I hoped that the new Premier, Jacinta Allan, or at least some in her Cabinet and their advisers, would actually read the report, which many commentators have described as balanced, where they would find a great deal to see and be disturbed by,” she said in her final report.

“Actual or perceived politicisation of the public service was an issue that had troubled me for some time,” she said in her final report.

“Judging by the number of reports around Australia touching on this theme, it was clearly troubling many people, including current and former public servants, politicians and academics.”

Ms Glass said she was troubled by the immediate sacking of former public service boss Andrew Tongue the day after Daniel Andrews took office in 2014.

She said it created the legacy of fear that continued throughout the Andrews administration.

Calling on significant reform for the Ombudsman’s office — including the ability to demand the production of Cabinet-in-confidence documents — Ms Glass said wider reform was also urgently needed in the justice sector.

Deborah Glass will be replaced by Marlo Baragwanath.

“But this requires a government not driven by headlines that all too often have triggered a knee-jerk tightening of bail, parole and sentencing laws,” she said.

“History is full of examples of enlightened governments taking brave steps and leading public opinion. Without them, we would still have public hangings, Dickensian prisons and sweatshops, not to mention institutionalised discrimination against women and minorities. Victoria was once a leader in justice reform. Perhaps one day we will be one again.

“Although I have never been politically affiliated, I am unashamedly an advocate for social justice.

“I thought this would be a government more interested in justice reform, and supportive of my work.

“How wrong I was.”

Jacinta Allan says the government has already responded to all the investigations referred to by Ms Glass. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

Premier Jacinta Allan said over the past 10 years she had met with Ms Glass about investigations that intersected with her portfolio responsibilities “on at least two occasions that I can recall”.

Unlike Mr Andrews, who only met Ms Glass once while opposition leader but never during his time as premier, Ms Allan has vowed to meet with new Ombudsman Marlo Baragwanath throughout her term.

“It would be a formality and not something that would be a matter of course,” Ms Allan said.

“This is an independent office and I want to respect the independence of that office and the work that Marlo will undertake.”

Addressing Ms Glass’s final report, Ms Allan on Monday said the government has “already responded to each and every one of those investigations that she refers to”.

Ms Allan thanked Ms Glass’ for her service over the past decade.

“It’s a big and challenging role,” she said.

“It’s an important role and I thank her for her work.”

Ms Glass finishes in the role on Friday.

Her successor, Ms Baragwanath, is a former government solicitor who was later appointed chief executive of the Independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption Commission.