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IBAC Insights
Issue 33 | 29 September 2022
Commissioner’s message
Welcome to the September edition of IBAC Insights. As the end of the year fast approaches, many will be aware, the end of my five-year term at IBAC is also very near.
Despite this, the next few months will see a significant amount of work take place. In our last edition I mentioned we are working to publish several important reports, and the finalisation of a number of operations remains delayed because of ongoing litigation. The reports, when published, will each make recommendations as part of IBAC's prevention and education functions.
Special features
Recognising and preventing corruption
IBAC's 2021-24 Corruption Prevention Strategy: preventing corruption is everyone's business
As the corruption risks facing the Victorian public sector evolve, IBAC continually reassesses how we can best work with the public sector and the integrity system to address corruption risks and help public sector agencies build their capability to prevent corruption and misconduct.
This month, IBAC published its 2021-24 Corruption Prevention Strategy – a strategy which supports a proactive, integrated and intelligence-led approach to corruption prevention.
Operation Watts special report
In July, together with the Victorian Ombudsman, IBAC tabled a special report in Parliament on Operation Watts, a major joint investigation into allegations of serious corrupt conduct involving Victorian public officers, including Members of Parliament.
The special report highlighted widespread misuse of public resources for political purposes after investigating a range of matters including allegations of misuse of electorate offices, ministerial office staff and resources for branch stacking and other party-related activities.
Working with diverse communities (podcast)
IBAC's Executive Director of Prevention and Communication, Linda Timothy, chats to the Victorian Commissioner for LGBTIQ+ Communities, Todd Fernando, about the work his Commission is doing and how we can all improve the way we work with diverse people.
News
Corruption risks in the lead up to an election
IBAC's Commissioner has written to all Victorian political parties ahead of November’s state election with a fresh warning about the corruption risks associated with donations and lobbying.
IBAC Annual Plan 2022/23
IBAC's Annual Plan outlines our priorities for the next twelve months, which include major infrastructure projects, high-risk police regions, and police responses to police family violence incidents and predatory behaviour.
IBAC welcomes police commitment to improve handling of complaints by Aboriginal people
An IBAC report released in May 2022 examined Victoria Police's handling of a sample of complaints made by Aboriginal people and its oversight of several serious incidents involving an Aboriginal person.
IBAC welcomes Victoria Police's recent commitment to adopt the report's recommendations in full.
Investigations and prosecutions update
Prosecutions arising from IBAC investigations are an important mechanism for exposing public sector corruption and police misconduct. They highlight the impact and consequences for those involved, which can include jail terms, confiscation of assets, fines and community correction orders.
Read recent IBAC statements about operations and prosecutions.
Events
Why good governance matters: best practice for public entity boards
Public entity boards play a vital role in overseeing our public entities. This webinar focused on the responsibilities expected of public entity boards, and the integrity obligations placed on individual board directors. Real case studies and high-risk areas, including procurement and conflicts of interest were explored.
IBAC Deputy Commissioner Kylie Kilgour presented alongside Victorian Public Sector Commissioner Adam Fennessy PSM and Diane James AM, Chair of Goulburn-Murray Water.
Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference
Sydney, 15-17 November
The Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference will bring together Australian and international anti-corruption experts to discuss risk identification and management, emerging trends and innovative approaches to combat corruption and heighten workplace integrity systems.
IBAC Commissioner Robert Redlich AM, KC and Deputy Commissioner David Wolf will be presenting at the conference to be held both in-person in Sydney and online.
Street address: Level 1 North Tower 459 Collins Street Melbourne VIC 3000
Postal address: GPO Box 24234 Melbourne VIC 3001
T: 1300 735 135
ABN 37 978 651 307