Dan Andrews considers jailing anyone who makes IBAC investigations public

Dan Andrews could make it a crime for journalists to report on anti-corruption cases after a case involving him was publicised. 

The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission was revealed to be investigating $3.4 million in grants given to the Health Services Union by the Victorian premier and his former health minister Jill Hennessy. 

IBAC took out an injunction against making a draft report on the matter public, meaning couldn’t see the light of day until after the November 26 state election.

Victorian Premier Dan Andrews (pictured) says he is open to laws that would make it a crime for media outlets to report on private anti-corruption watchdog investigations 

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However, The Age still reported that Mr Andrews and Ms Hennessy were secretly interrogated on the matter. 

The watchdog reacted furiously to the leak.

‘As a result of previous unlawful leaks to the media of information contained in draft reports, IBAC raised with government the need for urgent legislative change that would make it an offence for anyone, including the media, to publish IBAC draft reports, or the information contained in them,’ IBAC said.

Mr Andrews, appearing at a campaign press conference on Saturday, said he was open to this.

‘I certainly wouldn’t rule out changes to the law at some point, but I’m not here to make any announcements about that,’ he said. 

Watchdog IBAC reacted furiously to Melbourne’s The Age newspaper publishing a story about secret investigations into the Andrews government (stock image)

IBAC argued it was ‘critical’ the proceedings had been kept private to allow for the ‘natural justice’ of people getting a chance to respond to preliminary findings.

In response to the report Mr Andrews accused the media of peddling in ‘smear and innuendo’.  

‘Regardless of any smear, innuendo, or media reporting based on anonymous sources, the only IBAC matters I will comment on are those that are the subject of a final report – as is appropriate and has always been my practice,’ he said.

‘Questions about what IBAC is or is not doing are a matter for the independent agency.’

Mr Andrews insisted he acted appropriately ‘at all times and in all things’.

‘That is the oath I swore and I take it very seriously,’ he said.

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IBAC argued that ‘natural justice’ meant its findings should not be published at preliminary stages and that it should be an offence to do so (stock image)

Liberal opposition leader Matthew Guy said he would not draft any laws restricting the media’s ability to report such matters.

‘I do think there is a right of the press to report these matters. It doesn’t always suit politicians, but frankly, the media has a job to do,’ he said.

Mr Guy said it was ‘unprecedented’ for a Victorian government to be investigated for four separate matters, as has happened under Labor. 

‘Leopards don’t change their spots. The only way we’re going to get a government of integrity is to change the government,’ he said.

He promise to give IBAC $20 million in extra funding and widen the investigative powers of the watchdog. 

Victorian opposition leader Matthew Guy (pictured centre) said he is not in favour of laws that might curb freedom of the press

The Age revealed that Mr Andrews was being investigated over a $3.4 million grant given to the HSU to run a program to train health workers in how to respond to violent conduct by patients.

The grant was given in the lead-up to the 2018 election.

IBAC investigated why the program was approved despite the department advising against it and why it was abandoned due to Covid restrictions with only a handful of people trained.

An IBAC draft report in March this year looking at branch stacking in Labor and the use of public funds found that ‘cultural failings’ were endemic in the party and had been condoned or encouraged by party leaders for years.