IBAC witnesses’ pleas to be heard ignored

A Labor-led inquiry into Victoria’s Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission ignored 11th-hour pleas from multiple ­witnesses for the chance to testify in public.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

A Labor-led inquiry into Victoria’s Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission ignored 11th-hour pleas from multiple ­witnesses for the chance to testify in public.

Over the past month witnesses in IBAC’s Operation Sandon had grown concerned the integrity and oversight committee was ­retreating from initial indications that witnesses would be heard in public. Witnesses wrote to the committee, chaired by Labor MP Harriet Shing, appealing for the inquiry not to abandon them and warning any such move would ­exacerbate welfare concerns.

One Operation Sandon witness, in an email to the committee last month, described the process of writing the submission as “taxing, emotional and triggering”.

“I put my distress aside … so you would have evidence … to help with your hearing. It would be worth it so you would get the truth about how my colleagues and I were treated,” one witness stated. “I think it was a disingenuous request you made of the public … by not giving witnesses an opportunity to be heard this committee has contributed to the destruction of witness welfare.”

Another witness wrote to the committee last month claiming any decision to not give them a hearing and shelve their submissions was motivated by protecting Premier Daniel Andrews.

The integrity and oversight committee ordered an inquiry into IBAC’s witness welfare ­record after the suicide of former Casey mayor Amanda Stapledon on January 17-18.

Three days before she took her life, Stapledon had received IBAC’s draft report into Operation Sandon, an investigation into allegedly corrupt land deals in Casey, Melbourne.

On May 6, The Australian ­revealed that Mr Andrews had been entangled in Operation Sandon and was examined in a private hearing by IBAC over his association with a businessman at the centre of the probe. Most witnesses, including Stapledon, were grilled in public.

Witnesses believe that since that revelation about Mr ­Andrews’ involvement, the committee has silenced them and moved to shut itself down to shield him from further scrutiny.

Ms Shing had intervened and ordered “cut the feed” when Liberal MP Kim Wells attempted to ask IBAC Commissioner Robert Redlich why Mr Andrews had been examined in private while Casey councillors were grilled in public.

Asked to respond to the comments on Thursday, Mr Andrews said: “It’s complete nonsense. I haven’t seen that claim, but that is not an accurate claim.

“I don’t involve myself in the work of that committee.

“It’s got an important job to do. I’m not involved in the work of that committee.

“I’m not a member of that committee. I couldn’t offer any further comment than that.”

Asked to explain his understanding of the reasons the ­inquiry has been shut down, Mr Andrews said: “I don’t have any understanding of any of those matters.

“I don’t involve myself in the agenda, the work program, the witness list.

“When I say I’m not involved, I’m being completely frank with you. I’m not involved. I’m not a member of the committee, nor am I briefed on the work of that committee.”