Daniel Andrews resists calls to stand down over IBAC probe into fireys dispute

Daniel Andrews says he will not ‘as a matter of necessity’ demand the resignation of any minister being investigated by Victoria’s corruption commission as he fends off calls to stand aside.

‘Who IBAC investigates and who assists IBAC with their inquiries is a matter for IBAC,’ says Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. Picture: Getty Images

Daniel Andrews says he will not “as a matter of necessity” demand any minister being investigated by Victoria’s corruption commission to stand aside as he fends off calls for his own resignation over a probe into dealings with the ­United Firefighters Union.

The Victorian Premier was on Wednesday embroiled in the ­secretive Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission investigation after it was reported that the agency was ­examining his role in deals benefiting the UFU and its secretary, Peter Marshall.

IBAC is investigating the Andrews government over favourable dealings with the UFU, starting in 2014. The Australian reported on Wednesday that the inquiry – known as Operation Richmond – had begun questioning witnesses in secret hearings.

The emergence of details about the Victorian corruption inquiry came less than a week after Gladys Berejiklian resigned in NSW after that state’s watchdog publicly announced it would investigate her over a possible breach of “public trust” and whether she allowed or encouraged the corrupt conduct of her former secret partner, ex-Liberal MP Daryl Maguire.

Victorian investigators, unlike those in NSW, operate largely in private and have to meet a higher threshold before they confirm inquiries. As Ms Berejiklian cleared out her electorate office, Mr ­Andrews denied wrongdoing.

Asked by Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy whether he would insist any minister under investigation stand aside, Mr ­Andrews said: “No, not as a matter of necessity, no. Who IBAC investigates and the circumstances in which they investigate them, who participates in inquiries and who assists IBAC with their inquiries is, firstly, a matter for IBAC; secondly, it may not be a matter that anyone in the government would even know about; and thirdly, it is not a matter that would necessitate them standing aside,” he said.

“So the simple answer to your question is no.”

Mr Andrews has declined to confirm whether he had been ­approached by IBAC.

Mr Guy was quick to compare Mr Andrews with Ms Berejiklian, the third NSW premier forced from office by an ICAC inquiry.

“The premier in NSW has just stood down for being investigated by a corruption commission,” he said. “(Mr Andrews) is being investigated and he’s refusing to stand down.”

Daniel Andrews campaigning with fire fighters at the Collingwood Town Hall in 2014. Picture: Hamish Blair

There are key differences ­between the cases. In NSW, ICAC held public hearings where Ms Berejiklian gave evidence, and last week the body issued a statement detailing its investi­gations into the then premier.

ICAC will hold further public hearings as part of its inquiries from October 18.

In Victoria, while IBAC has not denied it has been probing the government, Premier and union for more than two years, it has not confirmed the nature or targets of the investigation. Laws preventing witnesses or people of interest from speaking about IBAC investigations in some circumstances are also in place in Victoria.

The existence of Operation Richmond emerged in July 2019.

The investigation is considering matters raised after a 2016 crisis when the govern­ment moved to strip powers from the volunteer Country Fire Authority and boost the UFU’s influence.

The IBAC investigation has been running for more than two years, and the headquarters of the Peter Marshall-run UFU has been visited by officers from the anti-corruption watchdog. Several individuals with knowledge of dealings between the union and the government have been questioned in confidential legal hearings, The Australian has been told.

At the height of the crisis sparked by the firefighter moves, then emergency services minister Jane Garrett, who opposed changes being rammed through, was forced out of cabinet and senior CFA chiefs lost their jobs.

Mr Andrews said the long dispute over the CFA merger was one of politics, not integrity, saying warnings of poor service during negotiations had not come to fruition during the catastrophic Black Summer fire season.

“I think the history of this is not so much one of integrity, it’s one of rank politics and everything was predicted, everything that was foretold did not happen,” he said. “Our volunteers and our career firefighters together in partnership with the community they serve did us all very proud.”

Mr Andrews said he had not spoken to Mr Marshall this year and a judicial inquiry into the matter was unnecessary.

During question time on Wednesday, Mr Andrews was also asked whether he would insist any of his office staff under active investigation stand down.

“No, I will not commit to that, and it would be strange if anyone did,” he said. “At the end of the day, everyone should co-operate, everyone should participate, everyone should do as that commission asks.”

IBAC and Mr Marshall declined to comment.