The Victorian Opposition has accused Premier Jacinta Allan of delaying anti-corruption reform until after the next election, despite her announcement of long-awaited powers for the state's watchdog.
Government Announces IBAC Powers
Jacinta Allan on Monday confirmed her government will finally grant the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) “follow the money” powers to chase taxpayer cash. However, the reference committee assisting the government to establish legislation does not have to submit advice until May next year.
Liberal MP Brad Battin accused the government of stalling anti-corruption measures until after the election. “I’d love to say ‘what a crock of–’ but I wouldn’t be allowed to on the show,” he told Sky News host Steve Price on Monday night. “This is the reality: We put forward laws in a private member’s bill for 'follow the money' and Jacinta Allan wouldn’t even let us debate it. And now she’s trying to say she’s tough on this by kicking the can down the road until after the election.”
Coalition Calls for Royal Commission
He reiterated the Coalition’s calls for a state Royal Commission into corruption on state-funded building projects. “Jacinta Allan, if you want to fix it, have a Royal Commission. Put that in place,” Mr Battin said. “I guarantee you the reason you won’t do it is you’re worried it’s going to actually come back and back again. Our policy for the election is ‘have a Royal Commission’, I don’t care if it was people on our side that were involved in the corruption, I want them caught. I think that should be (the case) across the whole of government.”
Victoria’s Liberal-National coalition and Greens party supported private members’ bills which would lend the state’s anti-corruption watchdog such investigative powers. The Opposition in March pushed a follow-the-money amendment through the lower house before the government batted it down in the Legislative Council.
Details of the Reform
The change finally allows the IBAC to chase taxpayer cash through various subcontracting arrangements and outsourcing agreements during investigations. IBAC had begged the Allan government for the powers with support from independent experts and the integrity and oversight committee.
Ms Allan on Monday touted the changes as the "most far-reaching overhaul of IBAC’s powers” since the watchdog’s inception in 2012. “It will see IBAC as a fit-for-purpose agency as part of an integrity system here in Victoria,” she said. Her government gave “in-principle support” for the overhaul and backed an expanded definition of corrupt conduct.
Retrospective Powers
“Let me be clear, I want the follow-the-money investigative powers to be retrospective,” Ms Allan said at a press conference. “IBAC should be able to examine recent allegations and also work alongside Victoria Police to ensure all criminal behaviour is investigated.”
Ms Allan has struggled to contain scrutiny over Labor’s Big Build project. The program has been dogged by corruption after it was infiltrated by bikies and organised crime. Lawyer and integrity investigator Geoffrey Watson’s report into the construction union suggested some $15 billion was lost to bad actors on taxpayer-funded sites. Ms Allan has disputed the figure, claiming it was unsupported.
On Monday, she said: “Allegations of corruption and illegal activity on Big Build worksites has been shocking. I am personally appalled by what has happened.” A reference group will gather and advise the state government on establishing the legislation. It is due to report by May next year.
