Notebook reveals work of 'dirt unit'
- — 21 December, 2010 07:32
A notebook left in a desk drawer of an adviser in former Victorian premier John Brumby's office may show Brumby's staff was investigating then opposition MPs and had inappropriate access to opposition emails.
The notebook, which The Age newspaper said was found in the desk of ministerial adviser, Simon Hammersley, was not shredded in the lead-up to the 27 November poll.
The Age said Hammersley was a member of an informal committee run from Brumby's office and dubbed by the coalition as a "dirt unit" aimed at discrediting then opposition MPs by investigating their political, financial and personal dealings.
The book, seen by The Age, indicates Labor's political tactics and the increasing influence of advisers over election campaigns, once the province of the head offices of political parties.
One page of the book, listed under "D. Davis" (a possible reference to former opposition health spokesman and new Health Minister, David Davis), had notes referring to emails "2 and from" and "personal" details, The Age said.
The page lists a "Mulder file", possibly relating to former opposition transport spokesman, Terry Mulder, that said to "go to Tom", most likely Tom Cargill, Brumby's head of strategy and Hammersley's boss.
The notebook also shows company searches relating to coalition MPs, details the campaign work, including advertisement text, that was then handed to ALP headquarters and contained notes about the disputed claim new Premier Ted Baillieu benefited from Kennett government school closures in the 1990s.
New Crime Prevention Minister, Andrew McIntosh, said the book "reveals that his (Brumby's) staff were compiling dirt files and potentially seeking to penetrate the emails of a member of parliament.
MHammersley refused to comment, but Labor spokeswoman, Emma Tyner, denied the Brumby government had had inappropriate access to emails.
