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Premier Daniel Andrews Rejects Calls To Resign Amid Corruption Investigation

Premier Daniel Andrews Rejects Calls To Resign Amid Corruption Investigation

“The simple answer to your question is no.”

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has rejected calls to stand down as the state's leader after revelations of a corruption investigation being started into his government.

According to The Australian, Victoria's Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC) is looking into Labor's dealings with the United Firefighters Union and whether any benefits were improperly given to the union or its secretary Peter Marshall.

Mr Andrews was asked by Opposition leader Matthew Guy about whether he would follow his New South Wales counterpart and resign while the investigation is carried out.

"No, not as a matter of necessity, no. Who IBAC investigates and the circumstances in which they investigate them, who participates in inquiries and who assists IBAC with their inquiries is, firstly, a matter for IBAC," he said.

"Secondly, it may not be a matter that anyone in the government would even know about; and thirdly, it is not a matter that would necessitate them standing aside.

"So the simple answer to your question is no."

Gladys Berejiklian resigned as NSW Premier last week after the state's Independent Commission Against Corruption announced it was investigating her over whether she breached the public trust.

The former leader is accused of improperly giving community grants to the electorate of her then-boyfriend and former NSW MP Daryl Maguire.

Mr Andrews' response sparked outcry from the Opposition.

Matthew Guy said: "The premier in NSW has just stood down for being investigated by a corruption commission. [Mr Andrews] is being investigated and he's refusing to stand down.

"I hope that tells the whole state of Victoria about the state and strength of his integrity."

IBAC's Operation Richmond has been running since at least July 2019, according to News Corp.

It hasn't revealed the nature or the people they are targeting in the investigation, however it hasn't denied investigating the state government, Mr Andrews and the United Firefighters Union.

The government was accused of removing powers from the state's volunteer firefighting service, the CFA, and instead boost the UFU's abilities.

The Herald Sun says back in 2016 there was a huge rift within the state's firefighters because the UFU struck a pay deal with the state government.

Volunteers with the Country Fire Authority claimed this left them as 'second-class citizens'.

Then-Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett resigned over the issues and Daniel Andrews sacked the whole CFA board and made the organisation pretty much entirely based on volunteers.

Featured Image Credit: Michael Currie/Speed Media/Alamy Live News

Topics: Australia