Media Releases

Anti-corruption hearings to be held into Ultranet project

The Department of Education and Training’s $180 million Ultranet project will be the focus of public hearings to be held by the state’s anti-corruption commission in February next year.

The Department of Education and Training’s $180 million Ultranet project will be the focus of public hearings to be held by the state’s anti-corruption commission in February 2016. 

Operation Dunham hearings will examine allegations of serious corruption at the department, focusing on:

  • how contracts around the online learning portal were tendered for and awarded
  • the personal and business connections between department employees and businesses involved in the Ultranet project
  • whether current or former department employees released confidential information, or used their position to influence procurement processes
  • whether department employees received payments, gifts, travel, employment opportunities or other benefits because they were involved in the Ultranet tender or procurement processes
  • department procurement and conflict of interest processes, and organisational culture

The examinations will start on 15 February at the County Court in Melbourne, commencing at 10am each business day. They will be open to the public.

They will be conducted by the IBAC Commissioner, Mr Stephen O’Bryan QC.  Counsel assisting will be Ian Hill QC with Carmen Currie of the Victorian Bar.

For further details, including a summary of the scope and purpose of the examinations, download the Operation Dunham preliminary directions.

Note: Some Operation Dunham information and documents are unavailable while the matter is before the courts.

Operation Dunham is separate to Operation Ord, for which public hearings were held between April and June this year. Still an active investigation, a final report on Operation Ord will be released once the Operation Dunham hearings are complete.

Anyone with information on either investigation should contact IBAC on 1300 735 135.

Media contact: 0427 480 840 or media@ibac.vic.gov.au

Note:

  • Interviews will not be available.
  • Media are requested to register their attendance at the examinations via above contacts.
  • For updates, follow us @ibacVic or #IBACDunham