‘I behave appropriately at all times’: Premier insists he has always acted with integrity

Premier Daniel Andrews has insisted he has always acted with integrity, after it was revealed an anti-corruption probe was investigating his dealings with the firefighters’ union to broker a resolution to a long-running industrial dispute.

“If you want to know what’s going on at IBAC [the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission], who they’re talking to, what they’re talking to them about, then you should go and have a chat to IBAC,” Mr Andrews said.

Premier Daniel Andrews outside Parliament House on Wednesday morning. Credit: Getty Images

“Even with around-the-back-door questions like that, [I won’t] be providing any other answer. And as for standards... I behave appropriately at all times. I’m focused on always doing what is the appropriate thing to do.”

The state opposition called on the Premier to resign,while Deputy Premier James Merlino backed his leader. Mr Merlino said he was confident the Premier had not acted improperly during the industrial dispute and reform of the state’s fire services.

The Age revealed on Wednesday that IBAC was examining the conduct of the Premier and a senior public servant over their role in controversial deals that benefited the United Firefighters Union and its boss, Peter Marshall.

While it has been known since 2019 that IBAC was investigating UFU matters, it was not previously known that investigators were scrutinising the Premier’s conduct as well.

Under questioning in Parliament, Mr Andrews said he did not automatically expect his ministers or staff to stand down if they were called to give evidence before an anti-corruption commission investigation.

“I will not confirm that it would be a matter of policy that anybody who is assisting IBAC with their inquiries will automatically be stood down,” Mr Andrews told Parliament on Wednesday. He refused to comment when asked if IBAC investigators had questioned him.

Integrity campaigner Geoffrey Watson, SC, said there was no basis for the Premier to stand aside.

“IBAC is apparently conducting an investigation and the Premier may have been questioned,” Mr Watson said. “Of course he should stay in his position.”

Despite several corruption investigations over the years probing the Labor government and its MPs, Mr Andrews said his government did not have an integrity problem.

Labor MPs were investigated by the Ombudsman last term over the so-called “red shirts” rort. IBAC is investigating allegedly corrupt land deals in Casey that engulfed some Labor and Liberal MPs. It is also looking at the state’s fire services reform, and Labor MPs using taxpayer-funded electoral and ministerial staff to perform party-political activity.

Pressed on whether the government had a problem with integrity, the Premier, outside Parliament on Wednesday morning, said “no”.

He refused to comment when asked if IBAC contacted him over its investigation into branch-stacking. In a statement last week, the independent commission said it was investigating Labor MPs and staffers, but did not name who they were.

“You’d need to speak to IBAC [about] who they have and have not contacted,” the Premier said.

“If you want to know who IBAC has called, please talk to IBAC, that’s the answer.”

When asked if he would stand down pending the outcome of an IBAC investigation, Mr Andrews said: “Absolutely not.”

Mr Merlino, who was appointed Emergency Services Minister after Jane Garrett resigned amid the political fallout over the fire services dispute, said the government had always acted with integrity and had adequately funded IBAC and the Ombudsman.

He said it would be inappropriate to comment on the IBAC investigation. When asked if the agency was probing his conduct, he replied: “Not that I’m aware of.”

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy and his shadow attorney-general, Tim Smith, called for Mr Andrews to follow the lead of Gladys Berejiklian, who stepped down as NSW premier on Friday.

Opposition MP Tim Smith (left) and his leader, Matthew Guy, called for Daniel Andrews to resign on Wednesday.Credit: Paul Jeffers

“The Premier when in oppositionmade a habit of calling for people to stand down who are being investigated by IBAC,” Mr Guy said.

“The Premier in NSW has just stood down for being investigated by an anti-corruption commission. Now [Mr Andrews] is being investigated, and he refuses to stand down. I hope that tells the whole state of Victoria about his state of integrity. Of course he should stand down.”

Mr Smith called on the Premier to explain his relationship with Mr Marshall.

“The Premier of Victoria is under investigation by our anti-corruption commission, IBAC. Why hasn’t the Premier stood down? Why hasn’t the Premier tendered his resignation?” Mr Smith said.

“I’ll be very keen to hear what the Premier has to say about these matters today. Is he going to fob you off again, is he going to say no comment, or is he going to front up and actually explain his relationship with [firefighters’ union secretary] Peter Marshall?”

Ms Berejiklian’s resignation came after her state’s anti-corruption body confirmed it would conduct public hearings into her dealings with disgraced MP Daryl Maguire.

However, in contrast to in NSW, there is no suggestion Mr Andrews has not disclosed a personal interest. Unlike the case of the former NSW Premier, IBAC has given no indication it intends to hold public hearings or spelled out that it is probing adverse allegations involving Mr Andrews.

Sources with knowledge of the investigation who are not authorised to comment publicly have confirmed that one aspect of the IBAC investigation involved scrutiny of Mr Andrews’ actions.

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