Daniel Andrews denies claims Labor MPs tried to ‘find dirt’ on anti-corruption commission

Integrity experts have called for an overhaul of Victoria’s Integrity and Oversight Committee, following allegations the Andrews government interfered with the state’s anti-corruption watchdog. 

Premier Daniel Andrews today emphatically rejected allegations from the former head of Victoria’s anti-corruption commission that Labor MPs asked an independent auditor to dig up dirt on the integrity body.

Former IBAC commissioner Robert Redlich wrote to parliament’s lower house speaker and upper house president in December claiming the Labor members of the integrity oversight committee (IOC) had directed Callida Consulting to “find dirt on IBAC”.

Callida had been appointed to conduct an independent performance audit of IBAC. Mr Redlich claimed in his letter the Labor members of the IOC inappropriately tried to influence Callida’s findings.

Mr Redlich also said two Liberal members of the committee wrote a minority report claiming the committee’s Labor MPs “had significantly interfered with the independence of Callida Consulting” by directing the auditor to remove certain parts of the report.

“What is most concerning is that it appears that the chair and majority of the IOC Audit Sub-Committee seemed intent on casting IBAC in a negative light for what we can only assume were political reasons relating to work undertaken by IBAC,” Mr Redlich wrote.

The letter has been tabled in parliament.

IBAC has carried out a number of investigations into allegations of corrupt activity by members of the Labor government.

Mr Redlich also alleged that members of the integrity oversight committee have leaked to the media “to gain some political advantage” .

“These leaks seem designed to put IBAC in an invidious position as they often relate to confidential operational matters to which IBAC is not able to publicly respond. This ongoing problem has meant that IBAC must be quite selective as to what it can disclose to the IOC,” he wrote.

Premier dismisses former IBAC chief

However, Mr Andrews rejected Mr Redlich’s allegations, referring to him as “someone who used to do a job [who has] written a letter that apparently says a whole bunch of stuff”.

“As to having a debate with the former head of that agency, I’m not interested in doing that, and I won’t do it. I don’t believe that’s appropriate,” Mr Andrews said.

“But I absolutely reject any suggestion by him or by anyone else that the government does not act appropriately. The government does act appropriately and there are no findings to the contrary.”

Mr Redlich also said changes to the composition of the integrity oversight committee were “urgently needed” to ensure the committee did not comprise a majority of government members.

“In light of these recent events concerning the IOC in its dealings with issues concerning IBAC, it is submitted that some amendment of the [legislation] is necessary to protect IBAC from exposure to the risk that the IOC or its majority may make decisions to advance a political purpose,” Mr Redlich wrote.

However, Mr Andrews denied that the government’s majority on the committee was being wielded for political purposes.

“It’s completely inappropriate for anyone to be suggesting that that committee is an extension of the government.That committee is made up of members of parliament who are elected by the parliament and are accountable to the parliament,” he said.

The current committee of seven MPs is made up of four from Labor, one Green, one National and one Liberal, and is chaired by Labor MP Gary Maas. The government is in the process of choosing a new IBAC commissioner, with the IOC having veto powers over the appointment. 

Corruption experts say government should not control oversight committee

Former judge and long-time integrity campaigner Stephen Charles said it was a “serious failing” that the IOC had a government majority.

“It is important that any oversight committee be one which leaves the government open to proper complaint, and an oversight committee dominated by government is not that,” he said.

Mr Charles said the legislation governing IBAC had been “allowed to fall into decay” and was in need of urgent reform.

Accountability expert Colleen Lewis, an honorary professor at ANU, agreed the watchdog’s oversight committee should not be dominated by the government of the day. 

“Anyone can see the imbalance there. We need the chair to be from the opposition or another party.”

The state opposition said Mr Redlich was accusing the government of corruption and called for an inquiry into his allegations.

“Victoria used to have a great reputation as a place where governments acted with integrity, with principles, with ethics, and what do we have here?” Opposition Leader John Pesutto said.

“It’s acting like a gang. It’s roughing up integrity agencies. It’s tried to interfere with the work of independent auditors, who are there to report on the affairs of IBAC simply so it can protect the government.”