The report tabled today from IBAC and the Ombudsman paints a disturbing picture of Labor’s toxic factional politics.
It is up to the Labor party to sort out their internal mess but when it comes to the misuse of public funds the government needs to step up.
The 2019 reforms introduced by the government in response to the Ombudsman’s inquiry into the Redshirt’s affair have been described in today’s report as “weak”.
At the time, the Greens moved to establish an independent Parliamentary Standards Commissioner. The Commissioner we proposed is very similar to the independent Integrity Commissioner being recommended by IBAC and the Ombudsman today.
The Labor government opposed our amendments for an independent Commissioner in 2019. Their failure to support strong integrity reform has let the misuse of public funds continue unabated.
But now the Premier must accept the recommendations of this report and act urgently to bring legislation forward to establish an independent Parliamentary Integrity Commissioner as well as working with all parties and independents for a Parliamentary Ethics Committee.
As stated by Tim Read, Acting Leader of the Victorian Greens:
“MPs are in parliament for the public good, not to spend time and public money on their careers and toxic factionalism.
“We need a strong umpire to uphold community expectations. At the federal election voters delivered a mandate on integrity in politics. That needs to happen in Victoria where the rot has set in.”
