Allegations of corrupt conduct involving Victorian public officers and Members of Parliament have prompted two of the State’s integrity Agencies to join forces for the first time in their history.
The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) joined forces with the Victorian Ombudsman to conduct Operation Watts, a coordinated investigation looking into allegations of ‘branch stacking’ which aired in media reports in 2020.
IBAC Commissioner, Robert Redlich said public hearings were scheduled to commence on 11 October as part of the joint Operation.
“The public hearings will examine allegations that Victorian public officers engaged in corrupt conduct by directing taxpayer-funded ministerial and electorate office staff to perform party‐political work during times when those staff were being paid to perform ministerial or electorate work,” Commissioner Redlich said.
“They will also examine allegations that public money intended to fund community associations was misused for party‐political work or other improper purposes,” he said.
“The Victorian community rightly expects public funds to be used appropriately and for all public officers to adhere to Parliamentary standards and processes.”
Commissioner Redlich said the public hearings would also consider whether the current systems and controls were sufficient to protect the integrity of the spending of public funds for ministerial and electorate office staff and the making of community grants.
The Commissioner said the hearings would also examine potential systemic issues including opportunities to strengthen associated governance, transparency and accountability arrangements.
Victorian Ombudsman, Deborah Glass said the two integrity Agencies combined both resources and expertise in the comprehensive investigation to shed light on the allegations.
“This is a crucial investigation to allow for public confidence in how taxpayers’ money was being used by those in power,” Ms Glass said.
