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Updated June 1, 2026 \u2014 7:29pm,first published 2:23pm<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Victoria\u2019s peak integrity agency could be given greater powers and a broader jurisdiction to investigate corruption on Big Build construction sites and throughout the public sector, after an about-face from the Allan government on IBAC reform.<\/p>\n But this parliament will not consider any of the proposed changes, which Premier Jacinta Allan said would be introduced well after the November state election.<\/p>\n The announcement on Monday received a mixed response: integrity experts welcomed the prospect of long-awaited improvements to the state\u2019s anti-corruption framework, the Greens expressed scepticism about the government\u2019s commitment to reform, and the opposition described the delayed timeframe as a sham.<\/p>\n The about-face came as the premier disputed the claim that corruption on major project sites exposed by this masthead had cost taxpayers $15 billion but refused to put a price on criminal infiltration of the government\u2019s Big Build program.<\/p>\n The $15 billion estimate was provided by Geoffrey Watson, SC, the author of a damning report into the CFMEU commissioned by the union\u2019s administrator. The estimate was backed separately by the Fair Work Commission\u2019s Murray Furlong.<\/p>\n Under a reform blueprint endorsed by cabinet, the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission<\/a> would be given follow-the-dollar powers similar to those currently available to the Auditor-General, a broader definition of corrupt conduct to make it easier to launch investigations, and greater scope to hold public hearings.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The finer details will be developed by a panel of integrity experts including representatives from IBAC, the Ombudsman, Integrity Oversight Victoria and Victoria Police. They have been given a reporting date of May 2027, with the resultant changes to be legislated by the end of next year.<\/p>\n Allan\u2019s recognition of the need for IBAC to have follow-the-dollar powers to trace the misuse of public funds on major infrastructure sites follows almost two years of damaging revelations in this masthead\u2019s Building Bad investigative series<\/a>.<\/p>\n The premier, who has previously been reluctant to give the state\u2019s anti-corruption watchdog sharper investigative teeth, described the proposed changes as \u201cthe most far-reaching overhaul\u201d of the agency\u2019s powers since it was established in 2012.<\/p>\n \u201cVictoria\u2019s anti-corruption framework must be transparent, and it must be fit for purpose,\u201d she said. \u201cI am no longer satisfied that IBAC has the powers it needs to do its job in full.\u201d<\/p>\n Key proposed changes to IBAC powers and operationsFollow the money powers: This will allow IBAC to pursue the spending of public money through private and third-party contractors.Broader scope: Widen the definition of corrupt conduct, including potentially \u201cserious disciplinary offences, conduct worthy of termination or behaviour that constitutes a serious breach of public trust\u201d.Increased transparency: Empowering IBAC to make and publish formal findings of corrupt conduct and allowing it to table recommendations in parliament not just as part of a formal report.Digital searches: Changes to ensure IBAC\u2019s investigations are not impeded by virtue of information or data being held on an off-site computer or in the cloud.Document destruction offence: A new offence would be created making it a criminal act to destroy or conceal documents or materials that are, or are likely to be, required in connection with an IBAC preliminary inquiry or investigation.<\/p>\n The proposed changes were announced as part of the government\u2019s response to a December 2025 report by parliament\u2019s integrity and oversight committee on IBAC\u2019s powers. The government supported 21 of the committee\u2019s 31 recommendations.<\/p>\n The Greens earlier this year introduced proposed legislation that would give IBAC access to follow-the-dollar powers, greater use of public hearings and a more workable definition of corrupt conduct. The government has refused to bring on that bill for debate.<\/p>\n The more significant change to IBAC\u2019s powers within the government\u2019s proposed reforms is to the working definition of corrupt conduct. Since its inception under the Baillieu government, IBAC has been able to investigate matters only where it suspects on reasonable grounds that a crime has been committed.<\/p>\n Integrity experts, including IBAC\u2019s inaugural commissioner, Stephen O\u2019Bryan, his successor Robert Redlich and current Commissioner Victoria Elliott, have argued this is a foundational flaw which requires IBAC to have evidence of criminal-level corruption before it can lawfully start looking for it.<\/p>\n Centre for Public Integrity<\/a> board member Margaret White welcomed the move on Monday to expand IBAC\u2019s jurisdiction.<\/p>\n \u201cThe previous narrow definition considerably weakened IBAC\u2019s ability to [investigate],\u201d she said. \u201cExpanding the definition now allows it to investigate serious, systemic and non-criminal misconduct that other integrity bodies can examine.\u201d<\/p>\n Transparency International Australia chief executive Clancy Moore said the proposed broader definition of corrupt conduct would give IBAC more scope to uncover favouritism, undue influence and other non-criminal conduct that undermines trust in public institutions.<\/p>\n He warned that a royal commission into the allegations uncovered by this masthead was still required to clean up the construction industry.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cFor too long, corrupt union officials, organised crime gangs and shonky contractors have infiltrated Victoria\u2019s construction sector, including the $100 billion Big Build program,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cPremier Allan\u2019s response to the IOC report is welcome, but a royal commission or similar commission of inquiry into corruption in Victoria\u2019s construction sector is still needed.\u201d<\/p>\n Greens MP Tim Read, who chaired the integrity and oversight committee that reported on the IBAC Act, warned that the government\u2019s public statements about changing the definition of corrupt conduct contained \u201cweasel words\u201d which raised questions about its commitment to meaningful reform.<\/p>\n In its formal response to the committee, the government said it supported the intent of the recommendation and would \u201cconsider legislative options to broader the definition\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThey have made no commitment to do anything except consider it,\u201d Read said. \u201cThey like the vibe of it and will think about it.\u201d<\/p>\n Read said that unless IBAC\u2019s definition of corrupt conduct was brought into line with that used by the Independent Commission Against Corruption in NSW, more wrongdoing would be tolerated in Victoria.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are able to get away with stuff in Victoria that you can\u2019t get away with in NSW or under the federal jurisdiction,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The Coalition, which has committed to giving IBAC follow-the-dollar powers and establishing a royal commission into Big Build corruption, dismissed Allan\u2019s announcement as damage control.<\/p>\n \u201cThe premier has confirmed the desperately needed reforms to Victoria\u2019s anti-corruption watchdog will not be legislated for at least 18 months, meaning Victorians will go to the election without stronger anti-corruption laws and without proper accountability for the scandal that continues to unfold under the premier\u2019s watch,\u201d Opposition Leader Jess Wilson said on Monday.<\/p>\n \u201cIf these powers are needed, they should start now.\u201d<\/p>\n In making the case for IBAC\u2019s legislative framework to be overhauled and strengthened, parliament\u2019s integrity and oversight committee relied on the testimony of current and former IBAC commissioners and integrity experts.<\/p>\n Included in its recommendations were proposals to give IBAC more scope to conduct public hearings beyond an \u201cexceptional circumstances\u201d provision contained in the IBAC Act. This includes permitting IBAC to hold public hearings for \u201ceducative and preventative\u201d purposes.<\/p>\n IBAC has rarely held public hearings, even in matters of high public interest. An example of this was its decision to question then-premier Daniel Andrews behind closed doors in relation to four separate anti-corruption investigations in December 2021.<\/p>\n Related Article This is in stark contrast to ICAC, the peak anti-corruption agency in NSW. Former NSW premier Barry O\u2019Farrell famously resigned after inadvertently misleading ICAC during a public hearing about a donated bottle of wine, and Gladys Berejiklian resigned as premier before she was publicly examined.<\/p>\n The federal National Anti-Corruption Commission has the same \u201cexceptional circumstances\u201d provision as Victoria\u2019s IBAC. All of its examinations have been conducted in private since the agency was established in July 2023.<\/p>\n Allan said IBAC\u2019s decision not to question Andrews in public was a matter for the agency.<\/p>\n In its formal response to the committee, the government said \u201ccareful consideration\u201d would be given to expanding the use of public hearings while safeguarding the welfare of witnesses.<\/p>\n More Building Bad stories<\/p>\n The original investigation: Explore the multi-part investigation<\/a> that plunged the construction industry into crisis.<\/p>\n Damning probe: Corruption buster Geoffrey Watson\u2019s full report of his investigation<\/a> into the CFMEU contained an extraordinarily damning expos\u00e9 of corrupt and criminal behaviour.<\/p>\n Treatment of women: A company that secured huge contracts as the leading women-led supplier of female workers on Labor\u2019s Big Build is owned by a male serial domestic violence abuser, was managed by a male drug trafficker<\/a> also accused of family violence and has deep links to bikies and violent criminals.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n![\"Premier](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/f19428e519d650c43ab8a1ad8c3c2e427563281f.jpeg\")
Premier Jacinta Allan announced the proposed changes to IBAC on Monday.Simon Schluter<\/p>\n![\"Premier](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780342161_671_ad9a5fb2056f71cd6d75372341d0a63d5b453fef.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Allan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/fcf52aec927397e17a0b5acc9459f86928c40318.jpeg\")
Allan vowed to boost the reach of IBAC.Luis Enrique Ascui<\/p>\n![\"Victoria\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/43cf85631d3dce47898cdfdfd31e414b2878611b.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Chip](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/c933d487c0923e425b125b59fa4140f217688025.png\")
Chip Le Grand<\/a> leads our state politics reporting team. He previously served as the paper\u2019s chief reporter and is a journalist of 30 years\u2019 experience.Connect via email<\/a>.From our partners<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Updated June 1, 2026 \u2014 7:29pm,first published 2:23pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":708853,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[43,44,41,39,42,40],"class_list":["post-708852","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-headlines","tag-headlines","tag-news","tag-top-news","tag-top-stories","tag-topnews","tag-topstories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/708852","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=708852"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/708852\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/708853"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=708852"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=708852"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=708852"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}