Victoria Shadow Minister for Integrity Of  Government Andrew McIntosh

ASHBY TAPES REVEAL BRUMBY’S SECRET OPI SCANDAL

Victor P Taffa

A string of damning revelations in The Australian about the content of secret telephone intercepts of conversations between top Victoria Police officers and members of the Brumby Government has revealed a growing scandal inside the Brumby Government over the OPI affair.

“These intercepts have already revealed a network of sleaze, disloyalty and deception operating at the highest levels of the Brumby Government, yet in Parliament last week John Brumby refused to answer key questions about the scandal and sought to cover up the role of his government,” Shadow Minister for Integrity of Government Andrew McIntosh said today.

Recent reports have revealed:

• Telephone intercepts of Labor’s factional henchmen Senator Stephen Conroy and former Senator Robert Ray trying to recruit Noel Ashby to become Kevin Rudd’s Labor candidate for LaTrobe;

• Key members of the Brumby Government worked behind the scenes to undermine and orchestrate the early removal of then Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon;

• The Minister for Roads and Ports revealed to top Victoria Police figures that the Brumby Government did not support Christine Nixon as Chief Commissioner and wanted to prematurely terminate her contract while at the same time John Brumby was publicly expressing total support for Christine Nixon;

• Allegations that information obtained from secret OPI telephone intercepts was secretly leaked to the Brumby Government and used by the government;

• That key figures in the Labor Government deliberately created an industrial brawl with the Police Union in order to manipulate public perceptions of the Government.

“The Ashby tapes reveal a culture of deception and political thuggery by key figures in the Brumby Government.” Mr. McIntosh said.

“The Coalition has repeatedly called for a full judicial inquiry into this scandal, the secret tape recordings that are still held inside the OPI and the Brumby Government’s role in the affair.” Mr. McIntosh said.

“The Brumby Government’s refusal to respond to these alarming allegations is an affront to democracy in Victoria.”

“John Brumby should establish a full independent judicial inquiry to comb through these secret tapes and determine the full extent of improper behaviour by members of the Brumby Government which has been captured on the OPI telephone intercepts.” Mr. McIntosh said.