Welcome to the March edition of IBAC Insights and our first for 2022.

As I prefaced in our last edition, 2022 will be a significant year for IBAC with a number of investigations concluding and the associated reports to be published. The finalisation of several operations has been delayed because of ongoing litigation. The reports when published will each make recommendations as part of IBAC's prevention and education functions.

Since our last edition, there have been a number of substantial outcomes achieved, as well as commitments to upcoming activities that I would like to highlight for you.

We recognise the challenges faced by people making a complaint about suspected corruption or police misconduct and acknowledge making a complaint may be a confronting experience.

To help address these barriers, IBAC has developed our Focus Communities Strategy – a strategy that aims to make IBAC more accessible, accountable and engaged with our diverse Victorian community.

Council CEOs and heads of departments play a vital role in preventing corruption. If they suspect corrupt conduct in the workplace, they are legally required to notify IBAC with an obligation known as a mandatory notification.

Mandatory notifications help to prevent corruption and improve the integrity of the public sector.

We have developed a video to explain what mandatory notifications are and what happens once they are received.

How does IBAC decide what to investigate and what to refer to police? What happens when it receives a complaint about police? What powers does IBAC have? 

Join IBAC's Deputy Commissioner Kylie Kilgour as she explains IBAC's police oversight. 

IBAC's online complaint form has been updated with changes to make it easier to use for all members of the Victorian community.

Along with technical changes, the form is now available in a range of accessible formats and translated into 21 languages other than English.

Last week, IBAC held a webinar exploring practical ways to develop and maintain a corruption resistant workplace culture. It featured speakers from the Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, and the City of Monash.

On 7 February 2022, IBAC announced that it will actively oversight a Victoria Police investigation into assault allegations which has resulted in the suspension of two senior constables from Transit and Public Safety Command.

The brother of jailed Department of Education and Training (DET) Director, Nino Napoli, was sentenced to a Community Corrections Order on 27 January following IBAC’s Operation Ord.

Mr Robert Napoli was sentenced in the County Court of Victoria to a Community Corrections Order for a period of three years, including a condition of 300 hours of community work to be performed.

Victoria Police charged a senior constable with recklessly causing injury, unlawful assault and common law assault following an investigation by Victoria Police into an alleged assault on a member of the public. 

A former Department of Education and Training (DET) staff member and a former Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) staff member pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office following an IBAC investigation.

IBAC's Operation Merrica investigated allegations of serious corruption involving a provider of quantity surveying services, and contracts issued by the DET and VSBA.

IBAC tabled a special report in Parliament on 16 December 2021 on Operation Dawson, an IBAC investigation that found former Victoria Police Superintendent Paul Rosenblum misused his position to involve himself in police investigations into allegations of historical sexual offences that involved associates of his church.

For upcoming event listings and recordings of recent IBAC webinars available to watch on-demand, go to www.ibac.vic.gov.au/events.

Save the date: Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference 15 - 17 November, 2022 in Sydney