Media Releases
IBAC Investigations uncover public sector corruption and police misconduct
The results of key investigations into alleged public sector corruption and police misconduct are detailed in a new report from IBAC, which was tabled in Parliament today.
Investigations into public sector corruption and police misconduct have examined allegations of fraudulent purchasing in local government, bribery of a public official, and excessive use of force by police during an arrest.
The report outlines IBAC’s activities in its first year of being fully operational, including investigations, reviews, and corruption prevention and education work, and IBAC’s approach to the new integrity legislation.
In IBAC’s first year of full operation, 24 new cases were investigated, 10 of which have been completed. Eleven former Office of Police Integrity (OPI) cases, which were unable to be completed by that agency before it was dismantled, were also completed by IBAC.
IBAC also completed 85 reviews of matters investigated by other entities, such as Victoria Police.
“The Victorian public has a right to expect that the people working for the public sector perform their duties with integrity, fairly and honestly,” IBAC Commissioner Stephen O’Bryan Q.C. said.
“IBAC is committed to exposing, investigating and preventing corruption and police misconduct to ensure that the community can have confidence in our government services and that vital public resources aren’t wasted.”
IBAC is working with public sector agencies to build capacity to prevent corruption and misconduct through prevention and education initiatives. In its first year, IBAC held 73 education initiatives across the state, reaching more than 1,600 public sector and police employees.
IBAC has also undertaken research to inform its future activities and where to focus its prevention and education efforts. Research into Victorian public sector employees’ perceptions of corruption suggested that many senior Victorian public sector employees would have trouble identifying corruption risks, and would not know where to report corruption.
The special report also explains IBAC’s approach to aspects of the legislation, highlights areas that may benefit from amendment, and identifies some aspects of the legislation that restrict the performance of IBAC’s investigative functions.
IBAC expects to further engage the Parliament, so that the legislation continues to enable IBAC to fully and effectively perform its functions in exposing and preventing police misconduct and corrupt conduct within the broader Victorian public sector.
