Integrity agencies funding
David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:35): (167) My question is for the Attorney-General. Attorney, I refer to funding of independent oversight agencies. The expected outcome for IBAC funding in 2022–23 is $62.9 million, yet the government proposes to spend only $62.2 million in 2023–24, effectively cutting IBAC funding despite IBAC being overwhelmed and unable to take on all the inquiries it needs to. I therefore ask: isn’t it a fact that the government has kept IBAC on a tight leash with a choker collar to muzzle its ability to inquire into corruption that is rife throughout the government?
The PRESIDENT: I do not know if you want to rephrase that, Mr Davis, but it is asking for an opinion.
David DAVIS: It is a fact. I am asking for a fact.
The PRESIDENT: I am happy to let the minister answer the question as she sees fit.
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:37): No, Mr Davis. The support for integrity agencies from the Andrews Labor government continues to be demonstrated year on year in relation to our investment. IBAC’s 2022–23 budget was $61.9 million and 2023–24 is $62.2 million. It is an increase of $300,000. The actual spending for IBAC in 2022–23 is $62.9 million, which is $1 million higher than their budget. IBAC did not in fact submit a budget funding thing this year. But what I think we need to understand is that your continual rhetoric around the fact that this is an organisation that is starved of funding and support is completely false. Just because you continue to say it does not make it true. There are almost 300 people that work at IBAC, and they are invested with more than $60 million a year. If you compare that to when you were in government, it was about 100 people and –
Members interjecting.
Jaclyn SYMES: You would not know, because you did not invest in them to have a look. Your suggestion is that it is an organisation that has not been supported, but it has, both financially and through legislative change with significantly more powers to investigate corrupt conduct. We have responded to the requests in relation to support for their investigations, and I thank them for their important work. But an organisation that receives $60 million a year – more than – and has 300 people can hardly be described as somebody on a short leash.
David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:38): The community knows that IBAC cannot investigate many of the things it needs to, and the reason for that is the government has starved it of funds. But further, Minister, the Inspectorate funding falls in this year’s budget from an expected $9 million in 2022–23 to $8.2 million in 2023–24, and OVIC falls by $1 million from the expected outcome. I say, Minister: isn’t it a fact that these independent agencies for which you are responsible have all been clamped and that oversight of the government will be compromised as part of the cover-up of your government?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:39): God, it is just all about statements from you. The Victorian Ombudsman did not submit a budget bid for renewed funding in the 2022–23 or 2023–24 budget cycles. However, the 2023–24 budget provides the Victorian Ombudsman with $700,000 to support the operations of their office in strengthening its data integrity and cybersecurity systems. OVIC has more than $300,000 lapsing in 2022–23 as a result of fixed-term funding provided in last year’s budget. The funding enabled it to engage an information security consultant and to upgrade its IT infrastructure. The funding was fixed term for a need in relation to that. These are organisations that are supported by this government to do important work. You continue to have this false narrative. I do not believe your facts. It is just your opinion, Mr Davis. In relation to support of the agencies and what they have asked for, this government will continue to support their needs.
I do just make reference to the fact that you say that I am responsible as the Attorney-General. These are independent agencies, which I do not seek to have responsibility for. I meet with them regularly and have administrative functions, but it is not my responsibility, because that is implying that I want to have some control over them, which you continue to ask me to have.