Exclusive: Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews investigated by anti-corruption watchdog | paulsakkal
Premier Daniel Andrews is being investigated in a secret anti-corruption commission probe over his role in the awarding of two grants worth $3.4 million to a Labor-linked union on the eve of the 2018 election.the premier and some of his advisers had been a key focus of the investigation, which is looking into how the money was promised to the union despite objections from Health Department officials.
The Health Department eventually signed off on the first grant in the face of aggressive lobbying of the premier by HWU boss Diana Asmar, despite objections from departmental officials, according to sources with knowledge of the process who spoke toPeople interviewed as part of the inquiry were asked whether advisers from the offices of the premier and health minister pressured departmental officials to sign off on the contract, the sources said.
On the election campaign trail on Friday, Andrews was asked if IBAC investigators had interviewed him or his staff.Asmar said in a statement toshe could not comment on “any inquiry” resulting from the awarding of the contract, but said the union had acted appropriately during the contract negotiations.
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