Information for principal officers

As the head of a department, agency or council (the ‘relevant principal officer’), you must notify IBAC if you have reasonable grounds to suspect corruption.

Mandatory notifications of public sector corruption are an essential part of the Victorian public sector's collective commitment to bolster integrity and stop corruption. 

Mandatory notifications were introduced in December 2016 as per section 57 of the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission Act 2011 (Vic) (IBAC Act).

Mandatory notifications of public sector corruption were introduced in December 2016. This obligation is set out in section 57 of the

As the head of your department, agency or council (the ‘relevant principal officer’), you are obligated to notify IBAC when you have reasonable grounds to suspect corruption is occurring or has occurred in your workplace. 

What you must notify IBAC about

Relevant principal officers aren’t required to search out corrupt conduct. However, they must report suspicion of conduct that:

  • could be corrupt conduct as defined in section 4 of the IBAC Act;
  • could be an indictable offence or a prescribed common-law offence committed in Victoria; 
  • would lead a reasonable person to suspect that corrupt conduct has occurred or is occurring (reasonable suspicion).

See directions for making a mandatory notification, including what's corrupt conduct and what's a reasonable suspicion.

  • Directions for making mandatory notifications (decision making flowchart)

     

  • IBAC recognises that sometimes it can be difficult to discern what constitutes corrupt conduct or at what point reasonable suspicion is formed. Relevant principal officers should exercise their judgement, and may seek independent legal advice before notifying IBAC.

    Be careful to maintain confidentiality, do not approach anyone you suspect of wrongdoing, and do not commence an internal investigation before notifying IBAC.

    If in doubt, submit a notification to IBAC for assessment.

    Misconduct that does not meet the mandatory notification threshold described above does not need to be reported to IBAC (for example, low level misconduct or performance related issues which should be handled internally as disciplinary or staff development matters).

  • Download and complete the mandatory notification form below. Use additional Part B and Part C forms if required.

    Submit the form(s) to info@ibac.vic.gov.au

    For urgent matters, call IBAC on 1300 735 135 (10 am – 3 pm, Monday – Friday, excluding public holidays).

    Post

    Attention: Manager Assessments & Review
    IBAC Commissioner
    GPO Box 24234
    Melbourne VIC 3001

  • IBAC will acknowledge all notifications in writing. IBAC will then assess the notification and either:

    • dismiss it (for example, where there is not enough information)
    • refer it back to the notifying agency or a more appropriate prescribed body to investigate the matter (for example, the Victorian Ombudsman, if the alleged conduct does not meet IBAC’s investigation threshold) 
    • start a preliminary inquiry or full investigation into the matter (where we assess whether serious or systemic corruption may have occurred or is occurring). 

    The IBAC Act requires us to prioritise investigations of a serious or systemic nature.

    Relevant principal officers will be notified in writing of the outcome of IBAC's assessment and advised of any further steps that need to be taken. 

    Relevant principal officers should contact IBAC if urgent action is required before or during the assessment.

Related resources

Mandatory notifications
Mandatory notifications
An overview of what principal officers in the Victorian public sector need to know about making mandatory notifications to IBAC.
Need to contact us urgently?
You can call us on 1300 735 135 (10 am – 3 pm, Monday – Friday excluding public holidays).
Contact us