Media Releases

Public examinations into allegations of serious corruption involving the Victorian vocational education and training, and transport sectors will be held by IBAC, the state’s anti-corruption commission, in Melbourne later this month.

The examinations are part of IBAC’s Operation Lansdowne, which is investigating allegations of serious corrupt conduct at South West Institute of TAFE (South West TAFE), Bendigo Kangan Institute (Kangan) and V/Line.

The IBAC examinations will focus on the:

• circumstances surrounding the awarding of certain qualifications, including whether current or former officers of South West TAFE or Kangan misused their position to award or interfere in the awarding of qualifications
• circumstances surrounding the negotiation, execution, implementation and management of third party training agreements
• circumstances surrounding the recruitment of certain officers and engagement of certain contractors at V/Line
• sufficiency of V/Line’s systems and processes to ensure appropriate accountability for the expenditure of public money.

The examinations will start on 27 June at the County Court of Victoria in Melbourne, commencing at 10am each sitting day. They will be open to the public.

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

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

Anyone with information relevant to the investigation is encouraged to report it at www.ibac.vic.gov.au/report or phone 1300 735 135.