DO NOTHING GOVERNMENT FOLLOWS COALITION POLICY – AGAIN
Three weeks after the Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition announced its policy to immediately establish a register of lobbyists to ensure the highest standards of probity and integrity in Victorian public life, the Brumby Government has been shamed into finally fulfilling a Labor election promise made three years ago.
Labor paid lip service to the implementation of a lobbyists register, promising it at the 2006 election and again in 2007. Labor also promised a new all-party parliamentary committee at the 2006 election to investigate government integrity and recommend improvements.In addition the Premier refuses to introduce the long-promised code of conduct for MPs or an independent broad-based anti-corruption commission.
“The refusal by the Brumby Government to introduce these crucial anti-corruption checks and balances means Victoria has some of the lowest standards of accountability and transparency in Australia,” Shadow Minister Responsible for Scrutiny of Government David Davis said.
“We have been warning for years of the dangers of inappropriate influence when former ministers and Labor mates are revealed to have been secretly engaged to win public projects for private corporations.
“Labor must realise its culture of secret deals for mates is on the nose with Victorians,” Mr Davis said.
Recent allegations of cabinet-level corruption in Queensland have underscored the incentive for corruption generated by cash bonuses paid to lobbyists after successful bids and tenders, and those allegations have forced the Queensland Government to act.
On Saturday 8 August 2009 the Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition Leader Ted Baillieu announced that under a Victorian Coalition Government a register would be established to identify all lobbyists and their clients and record all contact with ministers, advisers and public servants.
Mr Baillieu also announced it would be illegal for private companies to pay lobbyists cash bonuses in the form of “success fees” for public or state tenders or projects.
The Labor Government has now copied more than 45 policies announced by the Coalition.
