John Brumby has continued Labor’s secretive approach to his sweetheart deal with Crown Casino by refusing to comply with an Upper House motion requiring the government to disclose a range of documents on the deal by 4pm today.
Leader of the Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition in the Upper House David Davis said Labor refused to tell Victorians what they would get out of the deal and continued to cover up the nature and extent of John Brumby’s dealings with Crown boss James Packer.
On 24 June, the Legislative Council passed a resolution seeking the production of “all documents and communications held by the Government … regarding or involving the State Government’s recent decision to provide an extension of licence for the number of gaming tables at Crown Casino”.
Yet a letter made public today from the Attorney-General to the Clerk of the Legislative Council states that: “The Government is still in the process of assessing the balance of the documents relevant to the Council’s resolution”.
The Acting President of the Legislative Council ruled this afternoon that the Attorney-General’s response was not in accord with the Council’s Sessional Order requiring the production of documents, and undertook to further investigate and provide the Council with a more detailed ruling on the issue.
“Victorians want the truth about Labor’s backroom sweetheart deal with Crown, but all the government provides is more secrecy and cover-up,” Mr Davis said.
“The Parliament has ordered Labor to come clean, but the Attorney-General and his cronies are only interested in hiding the nature and extent of Labor’s dealings with Crown which resulted in this sweetheart deal for extra gaming tables.
“Once again, Victorians are left in the dark about Labor’s secret deals,” Mr Davis said.
