Taxpayer-funded ad campaign attacking Morrison Government referred to IBAC

Four senior bureaucrats who ticked off the Andrews Government’s taxpayer-funded attack ad campaign against the Morrison Government will be referred to the state’s integrity watchdog.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. Picture: AAP

Four senior bureaucrats who ticked off the Andrews Government’s taxpayer-funded attack ad campaign against the Morrison Government will be referred to the state’s integrity watchdog.

State Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien took the extraordinary step on Monday of referring the secretaries of the departments of Premier and Cabinet, Treasury, Health, and Education, to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission.

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In the ads, which are reported to cost taxpayers about $1 million, the Commonwealth is targeted by the State Government for what it says is the under-resourcing of schools and hospitals.

Mr O’Brien said the material was “designed or intended to influence sentiment against the current government of the Commonwealth”.

The ad campaign attacks Scott Morrison’s government.

“This is a prohibition under the public administration act and it’s something which invokes IBAC’s jurisdiction,” he said.

Premier Daniel Andrews said it was about pushing for a “fair share” of funding from the federal government, and Attorney-General Jill Hennessy said it was “curious” that Mr O’Brien was threatened by the push for more money.

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