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 made public.

The Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission is said to be investigating $3.4 million in grants given to the Health Services Union by Victorian Prime Minister and his former Health Minister Jill Hennessy.

IBAC has banned the release of a draft report on the case, meaning it won’t see the light of day until after the November 26 state election.

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

However, The Age still reported that Mr Andrews and Mrs Hennessy were secretly questioned about the matter.

The watchdog reacted furiously to the leak.

“As a result of past unlawful leaks to the media of information in draft reports, IBAC has raised the need for urgent legislative changes to the government that would make it a criminal offense for anyone, including the media, to publish IBAC draft reports or the information. that’s in there,” IBAC said.

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

“I certainly wouldn’t rule out the law changing one day, but I’m not here to make any announcements about that,” he said.

Watchdog IBAC reacted furiously to Melbourne newspaper The Age which published a story about secret investigations into Andrews government (stock image)

IBAC argued it was “critical” that the proceedings had been kept private to allow people’s “natural justice” a chance to respond to preliminary findings.

In response to the report, Mr Andrews accused the media of “slander and innuendo”.

“Regardless of any defamation, innuendo or media coverage based on anonymous sources, the only IBAC issues I will comment on are those on which a final report is being prepared — as appropriate and always been my practice,” he said.

“Asking about what IBAC does or doesn’t do is a matter for the independent agency.”

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

“That’s the oath I’ve sworn and I take very seriously,” he said.

IBAC argued that ‘natural justice’ meant that its findings should not be published in a preliminary stage and it should be a criminal offense to do so (stock image)

Liberal opposition leader Matthew Guy said he would not legislate that would limit the media’s ability to report such matters.

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

Guy said it was “unprecedented” for a Victorian government to be under investigation for four separate cases, as happened under Labour.

“Leopards don’t change places. The only way we can have an honest government is to change the government,” he said.

He pledges to give IBAC $20 million in additional funding and expand the watchdog’s investigative powers.

Victorian opposition leader Matthew Guy (pictured centre) said he does not support laws restricting press freedom

The Age revealed that Mr Andrews was being investigated over a $3.4 million grant given to the HSU to lead a program to train health professionals on how to respond to violent patient behavior.

The grant was awarded in the run-up to the 2018 elections.

IBAC investigated why the program was approved despite the department’s advice against it and why it was halted due to Covid restrictions, with only a handful of people being trained.

A draft report from the IBAC in March this year, which looked at the stacking of branches in Labor and the use of public funds, found that “cultural deficiencies” were endemic to the party and had been tolerated or encouraged by party leaders for years.