updated ,first published
Several Labor MPs have raised concerns about Prime Minister Jacinta Allan’s handling of the worsening CFMEU corruption crisis, on a day when Prime Minister Jacinta Allan clashed with reporters over the government’s response.
Three back-seat MPs, who spoke anonymously to avoid repercussions, said: era The government needed to neutralize the problem, and among the options being discussed internally was a royal commission and strengthening the powers of the country’s anti-corruption watchdog.
But in a tense press conference on Thursday, Mr Allan threatened to stop answering questions unless reporters retracted comments in which he suggested he was “indifferent” to corruption scandals, rejecting such concerns as “anonymous gossip”.
She further criticized ministers by rejecting the need for a royal commission and denying it was inappropriate to call South Carolina’s Jeffrey Watson a “headline chaser” or question his professional integrity.
On Thursday night, the government was forced to postpone parliamentary debate on the omnibus justice bill after the Green Party and Coalition called for amendments to give IBAC new follow-the-money powers.
After the Greens secured enough off-bench support to pass the amendment, the government postponed the final vote rather than risk it passing the House of Lords.
Shadow Attorney General James Newbery attacked the move, claiming Mr Allan had “too much lost his moral compass” and would delay important anti-hate speech laws and IBAC reform, while Green Party leader Ellen Sandel accused Labor of “doing everything in its power” to prevent the bill from passing.
The bill also includes important anti-defamation reforms promised by Mr Allan after the Bondi attack, which would remove the need for the Director of Public Prosecutions to approve hate speech charges.
Victorian Labor ministers launched a personal attack on Mr Watson on Wednesday after an exchange of views. deleted from his report He accused the state Labor government of turning a blind eye to CFMEU corruption and organized crime related to infrastructure projects, costing taxpayers $15 billion. Then Watson said: Similar evidence in Queensland investigation Join the union.
Police Minister Anthony Carvins called Watson a top chaser and said his evidence was “a bunch of gaudy ramblings”.
Attorney General Sonya Kilkenny further emphasized that it is reckless to make baseless claims that Big Build’s corruption will cost taxpayers $15 billion. She went on to say that lawyers have a professional responsibility to rely on evidence.
Mr. Carvins stepped up his criticism outside Congress on Thursday, calling Mr. Watson shallow and pushing back against the lawyer’s suggestion that Mr. Carvins was involved in Trumpist politics as “snobbish.”
“I don’t even know what that means,” he said.
“I think this all stems from the sordid nature of how people want to act. If you have evidence, put it out there.”
He said Watson’s comments showed that “people are pretty shallow and want to attack you in a partisan way if you question your homework.”
Asked whether it was acceptable for senior ministers to undermine Mr Watson’s achievements, Mr Allan said he did not agree with this characterization and reiterated that it would be “reckless” to repeat “baseless allegations”.
She further argued that Kilkenny’s statement was not a direct attack on Watson and that her statement applied to “all lawyers.”
“Mr. Watson’s claims were referred to by federal administrators.” [Mark Irving, KC] There is no basis for it,” Alan said.
“The Attorney General made a very important statement yesterday, and it should apply to all of us.”
Three cross-party Labor MPs said they were concerned about the impact the scandal was having on the government and there was widespread opinion that the government needed to act to neutralize the problem.
“The response so far has been terrible,” said one member of parliament.
Some disputed Mr Watson’s $15 billion figure, but acknowledged it hurt voters and damaged the party’s reputation. They supported some kind of royal commission after the Greens and crossbench supported a Senate coalition motion calling for an investigation.
All three were in favor of giving the country’s anti-corruption watchdog the following powers: Taxpayers’ taxes follow subcontractors.
“We don’t have to support their amendment. [But] We are working on further measures and should say we have something to show next week,” one lawmaker said.
The other two MPs strongly defended the Premier and the Prime Minister’s position that Victoria Police, the Fair Work Commission and other authorities are best placed to investigate corruption concerns.
Ms Allan said not a single MP had raised an issue with her about convening the royal commission.
“I’m not going to respond to anonymous gossip,” she said.
“But I repeat why I don’t support a royal commission. The arguments don’t stack up. There have already been failed royal commissions, and when the Liberals call for another royal commission, it’s all about wanting back their members’ wages.”
During the press conference, a reporter told him that the public was afraid to go to the police, and Allan threatened to leave, suggesting he appeared to be “indifferent” to the issue.
Alan refused to proceed until the reporter retracted his comments. Another journalist attempted to ask a question, but Allan again refused to continue until he retracted his statement.
“No, no, no, I’m not going to stand here and be accused of something I didn’t do, so I’d like you to retract it,” Alan said.
The reporter did not do so, so Allan ultimately decided to proceed with the meeting.
The Electrical Workers Union Victorian branch issued a statement on Thursday defending Big Build. They said 100,000 workers were involved in the project and Victorians should be proud of the difference they had made in their state.
“We will not allow the actions of a few to undermine the monumental accomplishments and dedication of the many hardworking construction workers who built the Big Build,” they said.
“Like many baseless allegations aired over the past two weeks, the $15 billion claim lacks credibility and factual basis. Allegations should never be treated as fact.”
On Thursday, era Two prominent Victorian union and Labor power brokers were filmed dining on a yacht with gang boss Mick Gatto, raising new questions about the Arran government’s efforts to combat underworld influence.
Prime Minister Allan did not respond to a question on Thursday about whether the government would refuse to meet with trade union leaders linked to GATT.
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