Media Releases

Entitled ‘Perceptions of Corruption in Victoria’, the presentation focused on recent work with members of the public across Victoria, the data from which will now be used to inform IBAC’s future prevention and education work.

This study complements work that IBAC has already embarked upon with the Australian National University (ANU), and follows the release of data last month which revealed that nearly 50% of 500 Victorians polled believed that corruption had increased over the last three years.

In addition, a similar percentage did not know to whom or where to report suspected or observed corrupt activity. 

IBAC Acting Commissioner Ron Bonighton said that these important research studies help the Commission to develop strategies to counter dishonesty, and provide key information regarding how Victorian’s perceive corruption, therefore enabling IBAC to consider the data, and progress with its work accordingly. 

“As we continue to establish IBAC, this knowledge helps us understand the challenges before us in raising public awareness of corruption, and how best to inform the public sector that IBAC is the organisation for them to bring their serious corruption concerns,” Mr Bonighton said.

“In addition, the data has confirmed the need for an independent anti-corruption establishment, under the jurisdiction of a single body, and IBAC will fulfil this requirement.”

Professor Adam Graycar from the ANU Research School of Social Sciences said that the Focus groups help researchers explore issues in more depth than is possible with surveys.

“Key challenges for IBAC will be to make Victoria a state where integrity and government are synonymous, and ensuring that IBAC is visible to the VPS and the general public as a destination for reporting corruption.”

The next phase of the comprehensive research project will be to survey the Victorian Public Sector to measure their perceptions of corruption and attempt to identify areas of risk.