Tuesday 18 October 2022
Today’s request from Victoria’s integrity agencies for their funding to be set independent of Government is an extraordinary intervention and an indictment of the Andrews Labor Government.
Daniel Andrews and his Government have shown time and time again they simply cannot be trusted on issues of integrity.
Victoria’s integrity agencies do not trust the Andrews Labor Government to properly fund their critical work to protect Victorians from corruption and abuse of power.
A Matt Guy Liberals and Nationals Government will ensure that Victoria’s integrity agencies are adequately resourced to do their job properly.
We have already committed to increasing funding to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) by $10 million a year and the Victorian Ombudsman by $2 million a year. We have also committed to increasing IBAC’s powers, including to conduct public hearings.
We will also create a new Officers of Parliament Committee to improve funding oversight of integrity agencies and provide more independent input into budget processes.
A Liberals and Nationals Government will consider the recommendation of the agencies to establish a new independent statutory commission or tribunal that would be responsible for considering funding of the agencies.
We are unequivocally committed to improving integrity in Government and ensuring Victoria’s integrity agencies are strengthened and properly resourced.
After spending 12 of the last 16 years as either Health Minister or Premier, Mr Andrews has badly damaged Victoria’s health system, trashed the budget, delivered the world’s longest lockdowns and left a trail of corruption and cover-ups.
The only way to hold Daniel Andrews and Labor to account and deliver real solutions for all Victorians is to vote for your local Liberals and Nationals candidate this November.