00:01Chief Minister Andrew Barr, welcome to Stateline.
00:04Was the Government caught off guard by the Integrity Commission's report with findings
00:09of corrupt conduct against a former senior public servant and a ministerial staffer,
00:14or were the wheels already in motion for Yvette Berry to fall on her sword and for her to
00:18be replaced in Cabinet?
00:19Look, obviously the Integrity Commission process was an extended one with public hearings
00:26and then a range of reports back, I guess.
00:31We were aware from the Integrity Commissioners' statements in an estimate, an annual report
00:39hearing, that the report was likely to arrive in the middle of this year.
00:44So there was some understanding it was due, but you don't get much notice when the final
00:52report is released and that then required a response, obviously within 24 hours initially
01:00and then 72 hours later the Cabinet reshuffle.
01:04Were you surprised by the findings?
01:06Well, from the public evidence in the public hearings it was clear that there was an issue,
01:13but the extent of that only became clear with the final report.
01:19Has public trust, confidence in the Government been irrevocably damaged by this and can you repair it?
01:26Well, it's certainly a serious issue that has commanded both an Auditor-General's report
01:32and an Integrity Commission report, the resignation of the former Deputy Chief Minister and accountability
01:39across the public sector. We have in anticipation of this made a series of changes
01:47really following on from the Auditor-General's report several years ago in terms of how government
01:53procurement is undertaken. There have been other external events as well in relation to the CFMEU
02:01being placed in administration, that a part of a joined-up response that is both territory level
02:09and across the country. So I understand the seriousness of the issue has had political consequences
02:17and no doubt will into the future. All we can do now is address the systemic issues. We believe we
02:26have
02:26made significant reforms to ensure that something like this would not happen again, but we do
02:33acknowledge the seriousness of the matter and I think from the Government's response and the
02:38consequences for individuals that's quite clear. Given the findings of the Integrity Commission here,
02:43as well as some of the concerns we've seen raised in Victoria, do you think that unions and other
02:47interest groups have too much influence over Government decisions? Well, I think there needs to be an
02:53appropriate framework and we've sought to legislate one around important protections for the workforce
03:01and that is the principal role that that unions play in occupational health and safety for example,
03:07particularly in the construction sector. So ensuring that those who tender for Government work
03:13meet all of their legal requirements is an important part of a Government procurement system. There will
03:21always be external organisations who will seek to influence policy, seek to influence legislation,
03:31and you see that both from the trade union movement and from business organisations.
03:39It's perfectly within the realms of the role of the Master Builders Association,
03:45the Property Council and others to have a view on public policy questions here, just as unions have a legitimate
03:53right to have a say, but it must be within a legal framework and consistent with both Government procurement
04:01law and of course the Public Sector Management Act. It was clear from the Integrity Commission's report that
04:08they found breaches there. That's acknowledged, not dismissed and there have been consequences for those individuals.
04:17The Opposition says this report points to the Government being corrupt, the Government itself. What do you say to that?
04:22Well, the Integrity Commission was very clear in making no such findings against any politician and what I think
04:32is important out of all of this is a very clear message to ministers, to ministerial staff and to organisations
04:40who would seek to lobby ministers and ministerial staff that Government procurement decisions are not made
04:48by ministers or ministerial staff and that they appropriately sit at arm's length in a clear legal framework.
04:57And so the message on the ground of all of this is for everyone in the system who seeks to
05:05lobby,
05:06it's important that lobbying is declared, whether that's ministers or other members of parliament.
05:12And it's important that organisations understand that they can't influence individual procurement decisions.
05:19And that's an important guideline that really needs to be out there for everyone.
05:24Now, no findings against Yvette Berry in the report, but she still resigned.
05:28Is there a chance she could return to the Cabinet after a spell on the backbench as Suzanne Audie?
05:33Well, Minister, former Minister Berry took responsibility under the Ministerial Code of Conduct
05:40for the actions of her former staff member. That was quite clear in the Ministerial Code.
05:45That is part of the responsibilities of a minister. I don't believe Yvette Berry is looking to come back
05:54into the ministry anytime soon. There aren't any vacancies at this point. What happens in the future
06:02will be determined in the future. Ministers who have had a period out of Cabinet have come back in.
06:10That's a historical fact, both in our jurisdiction and elsewhere. But I wouldn't think it would be assumed
06:18that that would be the case, but nor would I assume that it would not be at any point in
06:22the future.
06:23On the future, is it a fate of company that Rachel Stephen-Smith becomes the next ACT Labor leader,
06:28if and when you leave the Assembly?
06:29Look, ultimately, the leadership of the Labor Party is a matter for caucus members to both nominate
06:38and determine. But we are lucky within our team to have a number of potential future leaders.
06:47And I'm sure when the time comes for me to retire from territory politics, that the Labor Party will be
06:56in safe hands into the future.
06:58Chief Minister Andrew Barr, thank you for your time.
Comments