TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT – VICTORIA

Allan refuses to reveal details behind Covid curfew call

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Original article by Carly Douglas
Herald Sun – Page: Online : 24-Apr-25

The Victorian government is under scrutiny in the wake of revelations that the decision to impose a two-month curfew on Melbourne residents at the peak of COVID-19 in 2020 was not based on public health advice. The documents obtained via freedom of information laws show that the decision to enforce the curfew was made at a meeting of the government’s crisis cabinet. Premier Jacinta Allan was asked about the curfew at a press conference on Wednesday, but she avoided giving any explaination as to who proposed the curfew and which members of the cabinet had supported it.

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VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET

Allan govt under fire for keeping credit report secret

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Original article by Shannon Deery
Herald Sun – Page: Online : 20-Aug-24

The Victorian government’s reputation for transparency is under scrutiny following the revelation that it has not released a private credit assessment that was completed two years ago. Treasurer Tim Pallas commissioned the report from credit ratings agency Fitch in March 2022, which included an assessment of the state’s financial position. Meanwhile, rival ratings agency Standard & Poor’s recently warned that Victoria’s credit rating may be further downgraded if the state government proceeds with the Suburban Rail Loop project without federal funding. S&P downgraded the state’s credit rating by two notches to AA in late 2020.

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VICTORIA. DEPT OF TREASURY AND FINANCE, FITCH RATINGS LIMITED, STANDARD AND POOR’S FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

50 Commonwealth Games bureaucrats still being paid

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Original article by Shannon Deery, Alex White
Herald Sun – Page: Online : 22-Nov-23

The Victorian government is continuing to attract scrutiny over its controversial decision in July to withdraw from hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games. It has been revealed that the government has yet to finalise exit packages for about 50 staff who were employed to organise the Games; sources say they will continue to be paid until 29 January, which is the deadline for them to ­decide whether to accept an exit package. The Games staff say they have been placed on ‘gardening leave’. The manager of opposition business James Newbury says Premier Jacinta Allan holds the gold medal for wasting taxpayers’ money. Allan was the minister responsible for the Commonwealth Games.

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VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET

Andrews’ great wall of silence

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Original article by Patrick Carlyon, Mitch Clarke, Carly Douglas
Herald Sun – Page: 7 : 7-Jun-23

The Victorian government is under scrutiny over revelations that Premier Daniel Andrews addressed a forum in Melbourne on Monday night to which access was restricted to the Chinese media. Andrews has indicated that he has "no idea" why Australian journalists were banned from attending the Post Pandemic China-Australia Economic Co-operation Forum. Opposition leader John Pesutto says it is unacceptable for any political leader to give speeches in secret. Liberal senator James Paterson recently raised concerns that one of the forum’s sponsors is a "front group" for China’s top spy agency.

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VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, LIBERAL PARTY OF VICTORIA, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

‘Crooked’: Integrity experts slam Andrews for downplaying IBAC report

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Original article by Chip Le Grand, Sumeyya Ilanbey
The Age – Page: Online : 21-Apr-23

Griffith University professor AJ Brown, who is a Transparency International Australia board member and integrity expert, has attacked Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews’ response to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission’s Project Daintree report. Andrews has stated the report was ‘out-of-date’ and an "educational report, not a report delivered because wrongdoing was found". Brown says that IBAC found plenty of wrongdoing, while former Court of Appeal judge Stephen Charles says the behaviour unearthed by IBAC’s investigation would have led to findings of corrupt conduct in most other Australian jurisdictions; he has labelled Andrews’ government as "crooked".

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GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY, TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL AUSTRALIA, VICTORIA. INDEPENDENT BROAD-BASED ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION

Andrews’ secret Covid polling revealed

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Original article by Damon Johnston
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 8-Mar-23

Victoria’s Department of Premier & Cabinet has belatedly released nearly 200 pages of documents and emails pertaining to research on the public’s attitude to COVID-19 lockdowns. The polling was undertaken by QDOS Research, which is owned by Labor strategist John Armitage. The government had frequently reiterated that its pandemic response was shaped by health advice, but the documents also show that it asked QDOS to undertake intensive online surveys and focus groups to gauge Victorians’ reactions to pandemic restrictions, as well as the performance of Premier Daniel Andrews during the state’s marathon 112-day lockdown. The government had sought for two years to block requests for access to the documents via freedom of information laws.

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VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, QDOS RESEARCH

Andrews denies sneaky document dump

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Original article by Rachel Baxendale
The Australian – Page: 6 : 21-Dec-22

The Victorian government has been criticised for tabling 265 reports during the first sitting of state parliament since the election on 26 November. Premier Daniel Andrews has defended the decision to release tens of thousands of pages of government documents just days before Christmas; he stresses that the reports are being tabled in accordance with the law, and notes that many reports had been tabled before his government went into caretaker mode. Opposition Leader John Pesutto has stressed the need for accountability, scrutiny and integrity in government.

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VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET

Victorian Labor MP Adem Somyurek sacked, second minister quits amid explosive allegations

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Original article by Samantha Maiden, Sarah McPhee
News.com.au – Page: Online : 16-Jun-20

The Victorian government has referred former minister Adem Somyurek to the state’s Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission. Somyurek has denied the allegations of branch-stacking that prompted Premier Daniel Andrews to dismiss him from the ministry, and says he will seek a police investigation into recordings that were aired on ’60 Minutes’. Somyurek has also resigned as a member of Labor’s Victorian branch, pre-empting a move by Andrews to have him expelled. Robin Scott, a factional ally of Somyurek, has resigned as the state’s Assistant Treasurer over the scandal; there is speculation that consumer affairs minister Marlene Kairouz may also resign. It has been alleged that staff members of Scott and Kairouz were involved in the branch-stacking.

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AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, VICTORIA. INDEPENDENT BROAD-BASED ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION