Media Releases

It has been determined that it would not be in the public interest for any further investigation to be held into the conduct of former Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Sir Ken Jones QPM in relation to his dealings with certain confidential Victoria Police information following an independent review.

The report was prepared by the Hon Murray Kellam AO QC. Mr Kellam is a former Justice of Victoria’s Court of Appeal and is the current Chief Commissioner of Tasmania’s Integrity Commission. 

IBAC Commissioner Stephen O’Bryan S.C. requested Mr Kellam undertake the review after declaring himself unable to act in relation to the matter because of the potential for a perceived conflict of interest, primarily due to the number of former OPI staff that are employed by IBAC.

Mr Kellam’s review concluded that the evidence available to OPI and set out in OPI’s final investigation report to the Ombudsman did not support an allegation that Sir Ken Jones QPM had engaged in serious misconduct by leaking or facilitating leaking to the media of confidential police information.

Mr Kellam further determined that it is not in the public interest for the OPI investigation report to be provided to Parliament, nor for IBAC itself to further investigate the matter.

Mr Kellam otherwise determined that the Ombudsman’s report to IBAC in early March 2013, together with relevant parts of the OPI investigation report, be referred to the Chief Commissioner of Police to consider whether disciplinary action regarding two sworn members of police personnel (one of whom is no longer a member) is appropriate. This referral has taken place.

Accordingly, the matter is now concluded.

IBAC has now finalised a number of historical investigations carried over from the former OPI. IBAC continues to progress current investigations and its prevention and education work across the police and public sector.