Vic Coalition to amend Labor’s sham accountability laws

The Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition will move a series of amendments to Labor’s Members of Parliament (Standards) Bill to boost accountability, strengthen disclosure and provide independent examination of allegations of abuse and rorting.

“The Coalition’s amendments will ban or force the disclosure of rorting and misuse of public resources by John Brumby and his ministers, including party-political government advertising and lavish taxpayer-funded hospitality,” Shadow Attorney-General Robert Clark said today.

“John Brumby claims his Bill sets tough new standards for ministers and MPs, when in fact it will neither prevent nor punish Labor’s rorts and abuses.

“The Coalition’s amendments will give real teeth to this Bill to expose and prevent Labor’s rorts and misuse of public office.

“These amendments will also seek to stop the Brumby Government using its numbers in the House to block or cover up any investigation of misconduct by Labor ministers or MPs.

“Under our plan, members of the public – as well as other MPs – will have the right to make complaints about misconduct by ministers and other MPs to the Ombudsman, who will report to the Parliament if the Ombudsman considers a minister or MP has a case to answer,” Mr Clark said.

Amendments to be moved by the Coalition will also:
· make clear that all aspects of the new law apply to ministers;
· require ministers to ensure that no public resources within their departments or public authorities are used for advertising in breach of the Auditor-General’s guidelines on government advertising;
· prohibit ministers and other MPs from making improper use of their former office once they leave Parliament;
· require ministers and MPs to disclose details of hospitality they receive in an official capacity where the value exceeds $500, for example junkets at government-owned ski resorts;
· require disclosure of all memberships of political bodies, trade unions and professional associations;
· require disclosure of all ongoing arrangements entered into by an MP governing how they will vote or make decisions, such as party or factional rules;
· require MPs to disclose the suburb of their principal place of residence, so constituents can tell whether they live locally in or near their electorate;
· require MPs to disclose the value of investment properties they own; and
· require MPs to disclose any government jobs in which members of their immediate family are employed.