IBAC - Delivering a Modern and Robust Integrity Regime

A media release from the Victorian Special Minister of State advised IBAC and the Auditor-General’s powers will be expanded under new legislation. The legislation will assist to further strengthen Victoria’s integrity and accountability system.

For the first time, IBAC will be given new powers to investigate misconduct in public office, as well as the conduct of people who obtain an improper benefit when dealing with public officials.

IBAC will no longer be limited to considering serious corrupt conduct allegations or required to gather prima facie evidence of offences before it can investigate. It will also be able to launch preliminary inquiries.

The legislation will also give the Auditor-General “follow-the-dollar” powers to robustly audit public funds wherever they are spent to deliver important services on behalf of Government.

This will allow the Auditor-General to examine information from private sector providers of state services – such as PPP operators – to inform performance audits.

The Government will reform the Freedom of Information (FOI) system, with the establishment of a new Office of the Public Access Counsellor and improved response times for FOI inquiries.

The Bill to enact these changes will be introduced into the Victorian Parliament in the first half of 2016.