IBAC, Ombudsman send letter to Victorian leaders about need for laws to further stop corruption

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has been sent a letter from the state’s anti-corruption watchdog about a major issue that needs to be fixed.

Victoria’s anti-corruption bodies are calling for sweeping reforms to catch out officials misusing public money, just weeks after an investigation into government corruption wrapped up.

The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission and the Victorian Ombudsman have written to Premier Daniel Andrews, Opposition Leader Matthew Guy and Greens Leader Samantha Ratnam to push for legislative change.

It comes after damning evidence was raised at recent IBAC public hearings into government corruption, with revelations MPs were misusing public funds by directing electorate officers and ministerial staff to engage in work that furthered their political party.

Former Labor MP Adem Somyurek gives a testimony before the Independent Broadbased anti-Corruption Commission. Picture: Supplied

While public hearings have concluded, the investigation remains ongoing, and, as yet, no individual findings have been made.

Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass said more needed to be done to address the issue.

“The evidence indicates that despite a package of reforms enacted by parliament in 2019 in response to my ‘Red Shirts’ report in 2018, existing laws and rules around the legitimate use of public resources are not robust enough to prevent their misuse,” she said.

The reforms would aim to strengthen the frameworks for Parliamentary accountability.

IBAC Commissioner Robert Redlich. Picture: AAP Image/James Ross

During the hearings, MPs alleged when legislative changes were being implemented, parliament deliberately omitted reference to the wider definition of ‘party specific’ work, to permit the use of electorate officers to engage in some party-political activities during work hours.

The engagement with party leaders will form one input into the recommendations that will be included in the Operation Watts public report to be released next year.

The recommendations in the final report will look to strengthen the controls to protect public funds from being misused and go towards restoring public confidence.

IBAC Commissioner Robert Redlich said they were seeking clarity about the hiring of staff for electoral or ministerial work.

“Much of the evidence heard at the public hearings spoke about how taxpayer funds were directed to ministerial and electorate office staff to perform party‐political during work hours, rather than the job they were hired to do in performing ministerial or electorate work,” he said.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Opposition Leader Matthew Guy have been contacted for comment.