SELECT COMMITTEE INTO GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION AND IMPROPER CONDUCT

Monday 10 August 2009

Leader of the Liberal Party in the Legislative Council David Davis said today that during this weeks sitting of Parliament he would seek to establish a select committee of the Victorian Parliament to examine issues of failure in good governance practices, improper influence, corruption and the need for an independent broad-based anti-corruption commission in Victoria.

The committee will be called the select committee into Government Corruption and Improper Conduct.

“Serious issues exist in Victoria over the lack of transparency, accountability, and improper influence with the Brumby government, and the Premier had blocked every effort to inquire into inappropriate conduct and potential corruption within his government,” Mr Davis said.

Mr Davis said that the Opposition was concerned about a broad range of issues that the Brumby government had been involved in including:

· the activities of labor mates and ex labor ministers in securing lucrative contracts and tenders;
· issues with gaming and lottery licences;
· the conduct of Ministers and government staff captured on secret Office of Police Integrity tape recordings;
· the actions of labor mates in subverting proper planning processes;
· potential corrupt conduct at local council level and the involvement of State government members and staff;
· the shadowy role of labor figures in the awarding of $13.5 billion worth of recent government contracts in the water and transport sectors.

"The fact is that Victoria is now almost the only state in the nation to not have an anti-corruption commission. John Brumby argues that we do not need one, whilst in the same breath blocking all questions and investigations into allegations of impropriety and corruption that emerge about his government,” Mr Davis said.

Mr Davis said that recent revelations that the President and Vice President of John Brumby's fund raising group Progressive Business were intimately involved in lobbying for the successful tenders in the desalination and train contracts must be fully investigated.

“In any other state it would be a grave and serious matter for ALP fund-raisers to be doubling as lobbyists for key government contracts and for senior government ministerial advisors to be in government positions one day and then suddenly to turn up lobbying for lucrative government contracts,” Mr Davis said.

"Labor state governments in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia have been riddled with corruption and a culture of secret and preferential deals for 'mates'. There is a stench around the Brumby governments conduct. In every one of these states an independent anti corruption commission has sunk its teeth into these activities, exposed them and rooted them out. But in Victoria, John Brumby has ensured that his government is not subject to the same modern standards of accountability and integrity.

"The Legislative Council in 2007 passed a motion calling on the Law Reform Commission to investigate and report on the need for an independent commission against corruption. This motion moved by the Greens was supported by all political parties except Labor. The Brumby Government has stymied the Legislative Council's call, no investigation has taken place and the Brumby government has dismissed the views of the Victorian community as expressed by the Council.

"The Public Land Development select committee recommended in 2008 the establishment of an independent broad based anti corruption commission in its final report following its investigations into government land sales and development including the Kew cottages site. The committee pointed at the role of former labor Senator Graeme Richardson in the Kew cottages affair.

"The Committee will investigate community concerns about integrity and improper conduct in government and make recommendations about how to clean up and reform government accountability in Victoria,” Mr Davis said.

Media: David Davis 0419 000 212

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