‘Corruption cover-up’: Jacinta Allan ignoring ‘growing evidence’ for probe into CFMEU scandal engulfing Victorian government
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has been accused of a "cover-up" and ignoring "growing evidence" in support of a Royal Commission following the bombshell allegations of violence and corruption linked to the CFMEU.
Jacinta Allan’s government’s response to the CFMEU corruption scandal has been brutally criticised, with the Victorian Premier being told her justification not to have a Royal Commission is “not credible”.
The Allan government has faced mounting scrutiny following a corruption report released last week by barrister Geoffrey Watson into alleged criminal activity at Victorian Big Build construction sites.
Chief Executive of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Andrew McKellar, on Friday told Sky News host Cheng Lei that the government had failed Victorians by not ordering an independent inquiry.
“The Victorian Government has been implicated in this. So you really have to ask yourself why is the Victorian government not acting?” Mr McKellar asked.
Premier Jacinta Allan’s handling of the corruption scandal has been widely criticised. Picture: NewsWire/Luis Enrique Ascui
“It has to put in place an independent inquiry with sufficient powers to draw out this evidence and to restore public confidence.
“If that doesn’t happen, then really the federal government has to step in and draw a line and take action on its own account.”
Mr McKellar continued: “It’s already very bad and I think the risk is if they don’t take action then the public has really got to ask questions because I think there’s got to be a major loss of confidence in the capability, in the competence of the Victorian government if they’re not addressing those issues.
“And if it’s not competence that’s the issue then you’ve got to question whether there’s another motivation that is causing them not to ask those proper questions.”
Mr McKellar was pressed on what motivation he claimed was behind the Victorian government’s handling of the scandal.
“Well, is it intentional? And if it’s intentional, then it amounts to corruption. And if you’re going to cover up corruption to that extent, then you have to ask the question, is somebody implicated in that? Are they trying to cover for a given reason? And at the moment this is looking like the mother of all cover-ups,” he said.
“But ultimately someone has to take responsibility, somebody has to stand up and lead on these issues. So I think there would be a lot of pressure.”
It comes after Ms Allan threatened to walk out of a press conference after clashing with a journalist who said the Premier looked “disinterested” during a grilling on the scandal.
Chief Executive of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Andrew McKellar, questions the motivations of the Victorian government over their decision not to call a royal commission. Picture: Sky News Australia
“Can I ask that you retract that last point?” the Premier said, interrupting the reporter as they attempted to defend their remark.
“No, no, no, you’re not. Could I ask that you retract that last comment? I would ask that you retract that last comment. This is an incredibly serious matter that I’m working incredibly hard on.”
“For this press conference to continue, I’d ask that you retract that last observation. I was merely considering my answer to your question,” she added.
The Labor leader then said she would take the reporter’s silence as a retraction.
