Premier Daniel Andrews responds to media reports about ongoing anti-corruption probe

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has responded to reports suggesting he is the focus of an anti-corruption probe, saying he acts appropriately at all times and would not comment on IBAC matters before they were public “regardless of any smear, innuendo or media reporting”.

The state’s Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC) on Wednesday sought an injunction against Melbourne newspaper The Age over its reporting about a secret probe into the awarding of contracts to a union on the eve of the last election.

That injunction was granted, prohibiting the newspaper from publishing details from the draft report of the investigation.

The newspaper on Friday reported Mr Andrews was a key focus of the investigation.

The Age has emphasised that its subsequent reporting on the issue has relied on information it obtained outside the draft IBAC report.

Mr Andrews released a statement on Saturday morning saying questions about what IBAC was or was not doing were “a matter for the independent agency”.

“Regardless of any smear, innuendo or media reporting based on anonymous sources, the only IBAC matters I will comment on are those that are subject to a final report — as is appropriate and has always been my practice,” he said.

Mr Andrews said he acted appropriately “at all times and in all things”.

“That is the oath I swore and I take it very seriously,” he said.

Integrity has been a focus of the lead-up to the November 26 state election.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said “the only way we are going to get a government of integrity is to change the government”.

“That’s what I’m asking Victorians to do in about 20 days’ time.”

Press freedom concerns raised in wake of IBAC injunction 

IBAC released a statement on Friday explaining the injunction and said that the confidentiality of investigations was critical to the natural justice process.

The corruption watchdog stated it would be “quite unfair” to these persons if preliminary findings or other private information were to become public.

“Reputations may be unfairly damaged, or witness welfare harmed,” the statement said.

“No public interest is served in preliminary findings being published.” 

At a press conference announcing an election pledge for more mental health funding, Mr Andrews would not be drawn on the reported probe, referring journalists to his statement during repeated questioning.

Mr Andrews said he “certainly wouldn’t rule out changes to the law at some point” when asked about IBAC’s proposal for changes that would prevent media from reporting on draft reports.

He said the state’s integrity agencies were always in “dialogue” with his government and had an “open door” policy with the attorney-general.

When asked the potential impact of stricter laws on press freedom, he said he always supported “more voices, not less” in media.

Alliance for Journalists’ Freedom spokesman Peter Greste said The Age had been doing “what journalists should be doing” by “running their own investigations and inquiries”.

He said the newspaper should be able to publish its own reporting based on information obtained separately to the draft report.

“The Age has said that they obtained information about the same topic or the same subject of the corruption allegations that IBAC is investigating, but they obtained that information separately from the report,” Professor Greste said.

He said he was concerned about the effect the granting of the injunction sought by IBAC would have more generally on reporting into corruption allegations.

“Journalists will never know what the anti-corruption investigators are examining,” Professor Greste said.

“So the effect of the court’s injunction is to say to journalists that you can’t publish anything, you can’t investigate anything until IBAC has done its work.

“That really renders the whole point of media freedom redundant.”

IBAC has urged the government to make legislative changes to prevent reporting on IBAC draft reports in the media.

“In our view, making it an offence to publish such information is a critical sanction if people are to be deterred from publishing or disseminating information that could not lawfully have been disclosed to them,” the statement said.

“This will help ensure that the natural justice process is not compromised.”

Mr Guy defended the work of media in the wake of the IBAC injunction.

“I do think there is a right of the press to report these matters,” he said.

“It doesn’t always suit politicians but frankly the press has a job to do, the media has a job to do and they should be able to do it without that kind of legal threat.”