Pressure is mounting on Victoria’s premier to disclose if he’s been interviewed for a second time by the state’s corruption watchdog as part of an active investigation.
Daniel Andrews was questioned by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission in a private hearing connected to Operation Sandon, The Australian reports.
The long-running probe centres on allegations of favourable planning and property development decisions at Casey City Council, with the premier reportedly quizzed on property developer John Woodman.
The corruption watchdog has previously heard Mr Woodman or his companies donated to several Labor MPs and the Liberal Party ahead of the 2018 election.
IBAC confirmed its draft report for Operation Sandon has entered the natural justice phase, offering witnesses with adverse findings the right to respond.
“IBAC will not making any further comment on the investigation,” an IBAC spokesperson said in a statement on Friday.
It comes after a separate IBAC report on the misuse of public resources in the Victorian ALP leaked last week, with Mr Andrews named as one of 26 witnesses interviewed during the probe.
The premier refused to comment until the final report was handed down, and an Andrews government spokeswoman was similarly mute on his reported Operation Sandon interview.
“The government will not comment on an active IBAC investigation,” she said.
Creative Industries Minister Danny Pearson was left to front the media, declaring it would be “inappropriate” to make any comment.
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said Victorians had a right to know how many times Mr Andrews had been interviewed by IBAC and, if accurate, why was he afforded a private hearing.
“We’re owed that. There are so many questions the premier has to answer about this,” he said.
Victoria’s corruption watchdog can issue witnesses confidentiality clauses, making it a criminal offence to disclose information about an investigation.
The IBAC Act states examinations are “generally” to be held behind closed doors unless there are “exceptional circumstances”.
Public hearings can be held when it is in the public interest, they won’t cause “unreasonable damage” to a person’s reputation, safety or wellbeing, or the witnesses’ conduct may be seriously or systematically corrupt.
The opposition has promised to up IBAC’s funding and encourage it to hold more public hearings if it wins the state election in November.
