Thursday, 31 October 2024

Government performance

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:10): My question is to the Premier. According to IBAC’s most recent perceptions-of-corruption survey, 69 per cent of Victorian public servants agree that corruption is a problem in Victoria, almost double the 2016 figure. Why has the Premier failed to support public servants and tackle corruption in Victoria?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:11): In answering the question – and I note that I will be entirely relevant to the question in answering it in this way – I absolutely reject the claim that the Leader of the Opposition has made. I absolutely reject –

John Pesutto interjected.

Jacinta ALLAN: The Leader of the Opposition may remember well that we actually passed legislation in this place when we came to government to strengthen IBAC’s powers. We have also put legislation through the Parliament and have now introduced a parliamentary integrity commissioner, whose work will also commence. As I said yesterday, I am proud to work with a strong public service that is focused on delivering frontline services to the Victorian community.

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:12): Yesterday and today the Premier directly attacked IBAC by describing data from their perceptions-of-corruption survey as ‘false’, ‘baseless’ and ‘untrustworthy’. Why do Labor premiers always try and undermine our independent integrity agencies?

Members interjecting.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Members on my right, I need to be able to hear the question. Leader of the Opposition, could you repeat the question at the end there, please.

John PESUTTO: Why do Labor premiers always try and undermine our independent integrity agencies?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:12): This is a deeply dishonest misrepresentation of the comments I have made, and they are deeply dishonest because that is the form of the Leader of the Opposition. I went through yesterday the actions of a previous Liberal government that sacked an Auditor-General, that interfered with the office of the chief commissioner and that had numerous Ombudsman’s reports; Fishermans Bend and the office of living it up come to mind. I am proud that we lead a government that has strong public servants working with us. We have strengthened the role of IBAC, and we respect them. When it comes to respecting the work of independent officers, I draw the Leader of the Opposition’s attention to the comments made by his own Shadow Attorney-General on the appointment of an Ombudsman. I am not going to repeat those comments, because they were disgraceful and they were attacking an independent officer of this Parliament.