Anti-corruption watchdog grills Premier as part of bombshell investigation

The Premier has been grilled by Victoria’s anti-corruption watchdog as part of an investigation which has found the Labor Party has a widespread cultural problem and encourages the misuse of public resources.

Daniel Andrews has been questioned by the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC), and conceded there are cultural problems in the party which are unlikely to be confined to a single faction.

A confidential interim IBAC report seen by The Age reveals Mr Andrews is among senior Labor figures who admit “significant cultural reform is required within the ALP”.

IBAC interviewed 26 witnesses in private, and seven at public hearings, with its draft report finding taxpayer funds were used for nefarious practices including branch-stacking.

Investigative reporter at The Age, Nick McKenzie, says the report reveals “a deep cultural rot”, and the Premier’s admission that there’s a cultural problem is “critical”.

“To have our anti-corruption body, IBAC, examine the Premier about anything is a big deal,” he told Ross and Russel.

“He had to acknowledge that it’s a bigger problem, it infects all of the Labor factions which would include his own, and that means that Labor has a big cultural problem.”

The IBAC report does not contain any adverse findings about Mr Andrews’ conduct.

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