Brumby backs off for now on putting independent bodies under Labor’s thumb

The Victorian Liberal-Nationals Coalition has forced John Brumby to back off for now on trying to force independent public bodies under the thumb of his government, Shadow Minister for Finance Robert Clark said today.

“The Public Finance and Accountability Bill seeks to subject independent bodies to John Brumby’s political control,” Mr Clark said.

“Independent watchdogs such as the Office of Police Integrity and the Ombudsman could be forced to submit to Labor’s political dictates or hand over sensitive information about matters they may be investigating.

“This is unacceptable to any Victorian who cares about democracy, which clearly John Brumby and the Labor Party have little regard for.

“It is vital that this legislation be redrafted to remove any power for Labor to meddle with the activities of independent public bodies that are fundamental to democracy, accountability and the rule of law,” Mr Clark said.
“Late this afternoon, the government took the legislation off the program for Parliament this week so it’s clear the government has realised it can’t just crash through with this Bill.
“However, the government hasn’t withdrawn the Bill completely, and it hasn’t committed to make any amendments.
“The government must now declare publicly that it will amend the Bill to remove its power grab from the Bill. They government cannot simply take the Bill off its program now, only to bring it back unamended once the Altona by-election is out of the way.”

The Bill gives the Minister for Finance power to declare any body or office established by legislation to be a public body to which the legislation applies, including bodies such as the Ombudsman, the Office of Police Integrity, or the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The Bill also applies automatically to incorporated public entities such as the Victorian Electoral Commission and requires every public body under the legislation to support the achievement of government outcomes and to implement government policy associated with applicable legislation.

As well, the head of the department under which that body is classified may require the body to provide any information the departmental head requires in order to advise the Minister on whether the body is complying with government policy or working to achieve government mandated outcomes.

“For example, if John Brumby wants to continue his soft-on-crime approach, that could be set out in a policy framework associated with the Sentencing Act, which the DPP could be obliged to comply with,” Mr Clark said,