Anti-corruption watchdog says funding shortage 'must be addressed'
The head of Victoria’s anti-corruption watchdog has complained about a critical lack of funding, contradicting Premier Daniel Andrews’ claim last month that the body was getting enough money to do its job properly.
Robert Redlich, QC, commissioner of Victoria’s Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission, said a shortage of resources could soon hamper IBAC's ability to properly complete a growing task list that includes an investigation into the Labor Party’s branch-stacking scandal.
In referring the Labor Party's branch-stacking scandal to IBAC last month, the Premier said the body was sufficiently resourced. Credit:Getty Images
IBAC, which examines misconduct and corruption among politicians, police and other public sector workers, undertook the inquiry that led to the sacking of Casey council earlier this year and last month began its branch-stacking investigation with a visit to the home of fallen Labor powerbroker Adem Somyurek.
Mr Redlich expressed similar concerns over funding shortages for IBAC last year and on Tuesday he said recurring funding had not increased since the watchdog was created in 2012.
“The ability of IBAC to meet the growing demands and expectations of Parliament and the people of Victoria depends upon the resources, as well as powers, at our disposal,” he wrote in IBAC’s quarterly update.
“I have commented in previous IBAC Insights [quarterly newsletter] and last year’s annual report of the need for IBAC to be adequately resourced.
IBAC Commissioner Robert Redlich said funding shortages 'must be addressed'.
“I remain concerned that IBAC has not received any increase to its recurring budget since its inception in 2012, and this must be addressed.”
Mr Andrews last month asked IBAC to look into revelations in The Age and 60 Minutes that Mr Somyurek used taxpayer-funded staffers to recruit unknowing members to the ALP and build influence within the party.
"I'd be confident they have both the powers and resources, [and] the will, and they are at arm's length from the government,” the Premier said at the time.
IBAC received $40.4 million from the state government in 2018-19 according to its annual report, up from $38.9 million in 2017-18 – an increase of 3.9 per cent, but IBAC says this is not sufficient to cover its expenses.
While IBAC’s funding will for the first time be decided by a joint parliamentary committee in October’s budget, the Andrews government defended its IBAC record on Tuesday.
“We’ve delivered stronger powers and more resources to enable IBAC to investigate corrupt conduct and fulfil its statutory obligations,” a government spokeswoman said.
“The government has supported IBAC with ongoing funding and IBAC noted its financial position remains strong in its most recent annual report.”
Other notable cases involving IBAC include its recent finding that police did not use excessive force during a botched raid at gay bookshop Hares and Hyenas in Fitzroy that left Melbourne man Nik Dimopoulos with a shattered arm.
Lawyer Jeremy King, a police accountability expert, said high-profile investigations such as the one into Mr Somyurek’s alleged branch-stacking would probably continue, leaving other allegations of police and government corruption uninvestigated.
“In my experience IBAC are under-resourced, they are under-funded and there are a massive number of police complaints that aren’t dealt with by them,” said Mr King, who represented Mr Dimopoulos in the Hares and Hyenas case.
The Age understands IBAC is making contingency plans to further cut back its work from next year if funding does not increase.
On Tuesday, Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien said he had not received a response to a letter he wrote last month to Mr Andrews, demanding the Premier fulfil any IBAC requests for more resources during the branch-stacking investigation.
“It is imperative the body responsible for rooting out corruption in government is properly funded,” Mr O’Brien said.
“Given the array of scandals that Daniel Andrews’ government has been involved with, you have to ask if the Premier’s refusal to beef up IBAC is a matter of self-protection.”
Mr Andrews last year resisted pressure to boost IBAC’s powers to investigate police misconduct, stating it was a “strong body that has the powers and resources it needs”.
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