Victoria’s integrity watchdog says the risk of corruption through lobbying is real and imminent and has called for the state government to beef up measures to increase transparency around access to politicians and political fundraising.
A report tabled in parliament by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission on Wednesday warns a lack of transparency and accountability in Victoria for donations and lobbying have the potential to “erode public trust”.
IBAC has called for the state government to beef up measures – including election spending caps and access to ministers’ meeting notes.Credit:The Age
Victoria’s current laws on political donations, which were introduced in 2018, are among only three Australian jurisdictions that do not place any limits on campaign expenditure.
Integrity experts say this leaves open the potential for candidates and parties to find ways around the state’s donation laws such as through providing in-kind support that is not declared.
IBAC has recommended capping campaign expenditure as well as capping the amount that can be charged to enter a political fundraiser and forcing politicians and candidates to publish details of any fundraisers.
Unlike NSW and Queensland, Victoria also lacks “the basic information needed to scrutinise lobbying”, according to IBAC’s report.
The watchdog says ministers should be forced to release extracts of their diaries and that of their staff to reveal any meeting or event they attend, and the issues discussed.
IBAC commissioner Robert Redlich said donations and lobbying could be used to gain privileged access to decision-makers and pose corruption risks where there is a perception of a favour to be returned.
“Lobbying regulations must be transparent and hold both lobbyists and decision-makers to account in order to protect the public interest. They do not currently do that,” Redlich said in a statement.
“Lobbying regulations must be transparent and hold both lobbyists and decision-makers to account in order to protect the public interest. They do not currently do that.”
“If nothing is done, the corruption risks around lobbying are not only real but imminent.”
IBAC is also pushing for a $4000 cap on donations for local government candidates, as well as caps on expenditure, in a move that would align council donation laws with legislation for state political candidates.
The report comes amid delays over the release of IBAC’s Operation Sandon investigation into alleged corrupt land deals in the City of Casey first publicly raised by The Age in 2018.
The IBAC report does not make mention of Operation Sandon, instead stating its recommendations follow consultation with other states, policy analysis, and lessons from complaints and investigations it is currently undertaking.
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