In July 2024, Premier Allan referred limited matters relating to the $15 billion CFMEU rort to IBAC and has repeatedly used her referral as defence that her government acted in response to the worst level of corruption in our state's history.
However, IBAC immediately dismissed the referral because it does not have the powers to investigate the matters raised. Former IBAC Commissioner, Robert Redlich, has today described the referral as "quite inadequate" and "she should've known" it would fail.
Furthermore, IBAC has confirmed that decisions to proceed with investigations are communicated to complainants, meaning the Premier was aware that IBAC was unable to investigate.
This begs the question: why has the Premier done nothing after knowing that IBAC could not investigate her limited referral?
Leader of the Opposition, Jess Wilson, said: "Victorians deserve straight answers over the largest corruption scandal in our state's history.
"In a deliberate attempt to avoid accountability, the Premier has knowingly referred matters to IBAC that it does not have the power to investigate.
"While the Premier continues her cover up, only a Liberal and Nationals Government I lead will clean up Victoria by launching a Royal Commission into CFMEU misconduct and establishing a new construction watchdog."
Shadow Attorney-General, James Newbury, said: "The Premier knew that our chief anti-corruption agency did not have the power to investigate the worst corruption in our state's history and sat on her hands.
"IBAC's intervention confirms that not only has the Premier confirmed that she doesn't want to know how much money has been corrupted, but that her government took an active decision not to give the chief anti-corruption agency the powers it needed to weed out that corruption.
"We are not only witnessing the worst corruption in our state's history, but also the biggest coverup, by Jacinta Allan and her Government."
Media Release: Alexander Woff 0434 972 166
