CHANGES will be made to a government committee on which Member for Mildura Jade Benham sits after a deal was stuck between the Victorian Greens, the Legalise Cannabis Party and the government.
The Integrity and Oversight Committee (IOC), which had seven members including four Labor MPs, now has an eighth member and will have a non-government chairperson.
Victorian Greens integrity spokesperson Dr Tim Read said after the government’s majority was taken away from the committee, it could now investigate misconduct independently of the government’s wishes.
“We have worked with all parties on this because we want to see an outcome that improves the state’s anti-corruption regime,” Dr Read said.
In December 2022, outgoing IBAC Commissioner Robert Redlich stated that, in his view, changes were needed to the formation of the committee “so that it no longer has a majority of members who are members of the party in government, and that the chair of the committee is not from the party in government”.
In the previous term, the IOC had four Labor MPs, two Liberal MPs and an MP from Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party.
The chairperson position was rotated three times, with a Labor MP retaining the position throughout the term.
In this parliamentary term, Ms Benham is the lone Nationals MP on the IOC, joining Labor MPs Belinda Wilson, Ryan Batchelor, Jackson Taylor and Paul Mercurio, Liberal MP Kim Wells and Greens MP Tim Read.
As a result of the new deal, Legalise Cannabis Party MP Rachel Payne has joined the committee and Greens MP Dr Read will likely take on the role of chairperson.
Ms Benham said it was a decent outcome.
“If we can have a strong committee that can actually hold the government to account, that’s got to be a good thing,” she said.
“We did argue for a non-government chair when committees were first delegated.
“It will enable the committee to actually investigate allegations into the corruption of this government for a start.
“All these allegations have been made; nothing’s stuck so far.
“It will enable that and I know that that’s what they’re working towards.”
The Liberal Party recently made an Upper House push to establish a separate committee to investigate the actions of the IOC.
The new deal will see the Victorian Greens and Legalise Cannabis MPs block the Coalition’s motion.
The Greens say reforming the IOC is a much stronger way to improve the state’s integrity system.
“Our priority has been to get an outcome rather than headlines and we’re pleased to see an improvement in our anti-corruption regime,” Dr Read said.
Ms Benham said she had faith the IOC would now be able to make an impact.
“Even with Belinda Wilson, who is a government representative, she and I have been through the induction process together and we’ve had discussions about being able to work together as well,” Ms Benham said.
“I’m optimistic until proven that my optimism is not very well served.”
