Welcome to the December issue of IBAC Insights and the final edition for 2021.

Today, 9 December, is International Anti-corruption Day and it is a significant day in the IBAC calendar. This year's theme is 'Your right, your role: Say no to corruption'. Today, IBAC hosted a webinar for Victorian state and local government staff reflecting on the learnings and insights from the past 12 months and enduring risks to manage in the future. 

On this important day it is fitting that we reflect on the past 12 months and look back on the substantial amount of work that has been done to prevent and expose public sector corruption and police misconduct in Victoria.

At IBAC we continually strive towards making a greater impact for all Victorians and are pleased to announce the development of a new four-year plan which sets a framework for the work we focus on and achieve from now until 2025.

By Victorian Public Sector Commissioner Adam Fennessy PSM

Under the Westminster system of responsible government in Victoria, Ministers are responsible for the administration of their portfolios. They are accountable to the Victorian Parliament and ultimately to the people of Victoria.

By law, IBAC must be notified of potential public interest disclosures, allegations of misconduct by Victoria Police, and suspected corrupt conduct.

This obligation to notify, called a mandatory notification, helps to prevent corruption and improve the integrity of the Victorian public sector.

IBAC's Executive Director of Operations, Peter Morris, talks to Dean Newlan, a forensic and financial crime expert with more than 30 years of investigative and consulting experience. Peter and Dean discuss the new Fraud and Prevention Control Standard and what it means for corruption prevention.

Protection of people who make genuine disclosures about improper conduct in the public sector is critical for an effective integrity and anti-corruption system.

The Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012 ensures that people who report improper conduct and corruption in the Victorian public sector can do so in the knowledge that they will be protected.

To understand how public interest disclosures are received and assessed, you can use the Public Interest Disclosures interactive flow chart tool.

On 12 November IBAC concluded its public hearings into Operation Watts, IBAC's investigation into allegations of serious corrupt conduct involving Victorian public officers, including Members of Parliament. The hearings were part of a coordinated investigation between IBAC and the Victorian Ombudsman, which is looking into a range of matters including allegations of 'branch stacking' aired in media reports in 2020.

IBAC tabled a special report to Parliament in October that looks at the corruption and police misconduct risks associated with inappropriate social media use and online commentary by a senior police officer.

The committal hearing for Operation Merrica began on Tuesday 7 December and is expected to conclude on Friday 10 December, with 10 witnesses being called to give evidence. Operation Merrica is an IBAC investigation into allegations of serious corruption involving a provider of quantity surveying services and contracts issued by the Department of Education and Training and the Victorian School Building Authority.

In October, IBAC partnered with fellow integrity agencies to deliver a webinar on the risks and pitfalls associated with procurement processes. A joint event with the Victorian Ombudsman and the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office, ‘Don’t become the headline’ was attended by almost 800 people from across the Victorian public sector.

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