Asked about that statement at a press conference on Saturday,the premier said he would not rule out legal changes,although he suggested his natural inclination was to protect press freedom.
“I certainly wouldn’t rule out changes to the law at some point,but I’m not here to make any announcements about that,” Andrews said on Saturday.
IBAC commissioner Robert Redlich.Credit:AAP
But on Sunday he said:“When I said that I wouldn’t rule out other changes,I meant in general. We have a dialogue –[IBAC commissioner Robert Redlich] sits down with our agency heads all the time and talks about all sorts of things.
“So in general terms,there’s every chance that they come to us and say,‘We want more money,we want this changed and that changed.’ There’s every chance that we might well change the law in the future,but not in that regard.”
Redlich has also warned the federal parliament against adopting Victoria’s “exceptional circumstances” as the test for holding public hearings under the new National Anti-Corruption Commission. In a submission,Redlich warned the requirement had placed an “artificial limit” on the state agency.
He argued the “exceptional circumstances” test was “unnecessary” for the federal agency because of the safeguards already in the bill,that also require the commissioner to consider factors such as unfair prejudice to a person’s reputation,privacy,safety or wellbeing before determining whether a public hearing be held.
“A crucial way in which any anti-corruption agency exposes corrupt conduct is through the public examination of witnesses,” Redlich’s submission says. “Examining witnesses in public can make investigations more transparent and can increase public awareness of,and confidence in,the integrity system.”
In a submission,the Centre for Public Integrity’s research director Dr Catherine Williams also argued the “exceptional circumstances” requirement was “a serious backdown” on Labor’s much publicised set of design features for the federal anti-corruption agency.
She said the requirement “involves a specious circularity”. After the commission has carefully considered a range of factors,including whether a public hearing might unfairly damage a person’s reputation,and determined that it is in the public interest to hold a public hearing,it is met by a further hurdle,the submissions says.
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Speaking in Rosebud on Saturday,Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said he would not pursue legislative change which could curtail press freedom in Victoria.
“I do think there is a right of the press to report these matters. It doesn’t always suit politicians,but frankly,the media has a job to do,” Guy said.
Currently,it is only an offence for a person who receives a draft IBAC report – for the purpose of providing a response to the commission – to disclose its contents.
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