Daniel Andrews backs Shing in anti-corruption watchdog stoush

Daniel Andrews has thrown his support behind Labor minister Harriet Shing who IBAC has criticised as being “unresponsive”

‘(Ms Shing) is a person of the highest integrity’: Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews in Melbourne on Thursday. Picture: AAP

Daniel Andrews has defended Labor minister Harriet Shing as a “woman of the highest integrity” following criticism from Victoria’s anti-corruption watchdog.

The Premier also backed the right of parliament’s integrity and oversight committee, formerly chaired by Ms Shing, to review the witness welfare record of the ­Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission in the wake of the suicide of a witness in a long-running operation.

Mr Andrews said he “refused to get into a public debate with the state’s integrity agencies”, following IBAC’s criticism aimed at Ms Shing. “I would just make this point, a woman took her own life,” Mr Andrews said, referring to the suicide of former Casey mayor Amanda Stapledon, who died three days after receiving a draft IBAC report.

“Those issues should be the focus. Oversight is very important but I don’t involve myself in those matters.”

Mr Andrews also backed the character of Ms Shing. “She is a person of the highest integrity,” he said. “I am so, so pleased that she has joined the cabinet and she’s doing a fantastic job in challenging portfolios. She brings an intellect, a work ethic and a passion that is very, very impressive.”

Relations between IBAC and the Andrews government exploded this week after The Australian revealed on Tuesday the contents of a submission from the agency to the parliamentary committee.

In the submission, signed off by IBAC Commissioner Robert Redlich QC, the agency rebuked Ms Shing and criticised the conduct of the witness welfare inquiry.

“IBAC has grave concerns about the procedure that the committee has followed in undertaking this inquiry, which in IBAC’s view has involved a significant departure from established principles of procedural fairness,” the submission states.

IBAC described Ms Shing as “unresponsive” to its concerns and said she had demonstrated “dis­appointing shortcomings” by ­either ignoring or dismissing the agency’s complaints.

In response, the committee’s new chair, Labor MP Gary Maas, hit out at IBAC, saying the language in its submission confirmed why the inquiry into its witness welfare record was necessary.

Former Casey mayor Sam Aziz, one of the prime targets of IBAC’s Operation Sandon, renewed his criticism of IBAC and the parliamentary committee on Thursday.

“The witnesses whose welfare was supposed to be assured by this committee process have been ignored, while a politically motivated war rages between parliament and the unaccountable IBAC,” he said.

“Following IBAC’s reckless conduct, a former mayor has committed suicide, and many others have had their lives shattered.”