Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan (left) who said, “Good governments rely on public servants giving frank and fearless advice”. Photo: Jacinta Allan.
Sweeping integrity reforms will be introduced to strengthen Victoria’s lobbying laws and ensure clear standards are in place for ministers, ministerial staff and the public service.
The announcement follows the Victorian corruption watchdog’s Operation Daintree investigation and report released in April.
The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission’s (IBAC) highlighted how improper influence compromised the procurement process for a $1.2 million contract awarded to a union-established training group that compromised the management of the contract.
The state government will accept, either in full or in principle, nine of the 17 recommendations made by the report, while seven are connected with work already underway and are being reviewed.
Two recommendations are directed to Parliament, and two will not be supported.
“Good governments rely on public servants giving frank and fearless advice,” Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said.
“These reforms will build on our work to ensure all those who serve the Victorian people understand their roles and responsibilities.”
Victorian Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes added, “Victorians deserve to have trust in the people and institutions that serve them; that’s why we’re introducing sweeping lobbying reforms and continuing to strengthen the state’s integrity framework”.
In line with the supported recommendations, the Victorian Government said it would increase transparency and accountability of lobbying activities at state and council levels. Codes of conduct and guidance for ministers, ministerial staff and the public service will also be updated. New legislation and training will be introduced to clarify and strengthen the partnership between government and the public service.
The Victorian Public Sector Commission, Victorian Secretaries Board and the state government, in consultation with the Department of Premier and Cabinet, are all working to implement these reforms.
The state government said the Department of Health would also continue work to strengthen its procurement policies, systems and practices to address vulnerabilities identified by Operation Daintree.
The government confirmed further work was underway to legislate employment arrangements of ministerial staff, ensuring responsibilities, expectations, and reporting lines were transparent and appropriate.
These reforms sit alongside Victoria’s proposed Parliamentary Integrity Commission Bill, allowing the Commission to investigate allegations of misconduct and inappropriate behaviour by all state MPs.
