The Victorian Greens are challenging Jacinta Allan's Labor Government to support their laws, saying that there is no reason we can't strengthen IBAC and give it follow the dollar powers by the end of the week.
The Greens say that given the astounding scale of corruption that's been reported, Labor should be acting with urgency not keep making excuses.
The Greens will move amendments as part of a wide-ranging omnibus Bill tomorrow to strengthen IBAC, giving it clear powers to "follow the dollar" allowing it to investigate how taxpayer money flows through subcontractors and labour hire firms on major government projects.
The Greens say that these are critical laws that go to the heart of how $15 billion dollars of taxpayer money could go missing on Labor's major infrastructure projects.
The Greens say Labor's claim that the reforms cannot be passed this week is a "fake excuse", noting the amendments have already been drafted and could be legislated immediately - with the Greens laws expecting to receive crossbench and Coalition support.
If passed in the Upper House, Labor would be forced to decide whether to support stronger anti-corruption powers - or use its Lower House majority to block these laws.
As stated by the Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell:
"There's no reason that IBAC can't have stronger powers to follow the dollar by the end of the week. Labor needs to stop hiding behind excuses and vote for these laws.
"Labor has handed billions of dollars in public money to private corporations and subcontractors while our anti-corruption watchdog doesn't even have clear powers to follow that money.
"$15 billion is an extraordinary amount of money. You could build ten Footscray hospitals, dozens of schools and enough public housing to clear the housing waitlist.
"When Victorians hear that this amount of public money has gone missing on Labor's watch, I think they will be pretty appalled to see Labor vote down laws that could stop it from happening again."
