The Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC) has issued a warning to political parties and candidates ahead of the State election alerting them to the corruption risks associated with donations and lobbying.
In an open letter to political parties, IBAC Commissioner Robert Redlich said serious corruption risks could arise during the pre-election period and highlighted that Victorian communities expected elected officials and candidates to act with integrity, and make decisions free from bias, collusion and favouritism.
“Individual candidates and political parties attract supporters from specific community interest groups and retain them by building strong relationships and crafting policies to align with their supporters’ interests,” Commissioner Redlich said.
“However, donations and lobbying can be used to gain privileged access to decision-makers within a party by elevating a donor’s or lobbyist’s profile,” he said.
“When candidates and political parties actively solicit donations through fundraising activities, requests for in-kind support, direct payments or through associated entities – this has the potential to compromise them, once elected.”
Commissioner Redlich said the upcoming election (26 November) would be the first true test of the new rules on political donations that were introduced in 2018.
He said the rules aimed to increase transparency and protect against improper influence in political decision making.
“It is essential for candidates to remain vigilant and be aware of the approaches that can be used by people and organisations, either from the public or private sector, to improperly influence decisions through lobbying, pressure, favours and gifts,” the Commissioner said.
“Candidates must be able to recognise this as corruption.”
Commissioner Redlich also reminded candidates that while complaints of alleged corruption or misconduct could still be made to IBAC in the lead-up to an election, it was not appropriate to misuse IBAC’s complaints process and publicise any complaints for the purpose of political gains.
“The public airing of unsubstantiated allegations may adversely affect IBAC’s ability to investigate a complaint, compromise the fair hearing of individuals and damage the reputation of a person alleged to have engaged in corrupt conduct,” he said.
“There is also a risk that publicising unsubstantiated allegations will be perceived as being motivated by political gain.”
The Commissioner’s two-page letter to the political parties and candidates can be accessed at this PS News link.
