IBAC probe widens amid MFB spying, hacking fears
An IBAC probe into Victoria’s fire services has widened to include the suspected use of shady surveillance tactics against MFB leaders, who feared their calls, meetings and emails were bugged and hacked.
VIC News
Don't miss out on the headlines from VIC News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A secret anti-corruption investigation into Victoria’s fire services is probing shady surveillance tactics suspected of being used against the Metropolitan Fire Brigade.
The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission probe, revealed by the Herald Sun in July, has widened to include whether potentially criminal surveillance methods were used during a bitter dispute with the United Firefighters Union.
Senior MFB leaders held serious concerns that their emails, phone calls and personal meetings had been hacked and bugged, dating back to at least 2016.
The Herald Sun can reveal that the MFB has routinely called in private security experts to sweep its offices — including the boardroom — for listening devices.
Fears that internal emails were being hacked prompted some senior MFB figures to handle sensitive matters through private email servers.
IBAC has been probing the long dispute between the UFU and the MFB and CFA over pay and conditions, as well as the union’s relationship with the Andrews Government.
Asked about its efforts to probe apparent security breaches at the MFB, an IBAC spokeswoman said last night: “For legal and operational reasons, IBAC is unable to comment.”
Premier Daniel Andrews said in July that the IBAC investigation “doesn’t involve me”, but the probe has alarmed some senior Labor figures amid fears it will entangle MPs.
The Herald Sun has been told MFB executives were often concerned at the United Firefighters Union apparently managing to find out information before it had been formally conveyed to staff.
A source said that, on one occasion, a sensitive decision was made in a meeting of senior leaders, only for UFU representatives to learn about it within half an hour.
Concerns that internal emails had been hacked were referred to Victoria Police, as well as integrity agencies. While the matter was not formally investigated at the time, officers did speak to senior MFB figures.
It is understood some MFB staff occasionally sent false information via email to see if it leaked out.
Another source said concerns were also raised within the MFB about the security of its phone system and whether calls were being monitored.
Asked whether it was concerned by improper surveillance, an MFB spokeswoman said: “MFB takes security issues seriously and has robust processes in place to ensure the safety of our people and the community.
“We have a number of policies relating to information management and the use of electronic devices.”
UFU secretary Peter Marshall did not respond to calls from the Herald Sun.
Another central focus of the IBAC investigation has been claims made by Mr Marshall on ABC radio in April last year that he had a secret deal with the government, when he also refused to rule out having a recording of the Premier.
MORE NEWS
COPS SEEK TO FORCE GROUP TO TESTIFY ON SHOOTING
LAWYERS CALLED IN AS AFLW DISPUTE ESCALATES
MINISTERIAL STAFFERS MAY QUIT CPSU OVER PAY DEAL
The outburst was prompted by the government’s appointment of Dan Stephens as the MFB’s chief officer, who Mr Marshall claimed had a “union-busting, budget-breaking” track record.
Mr Stephens, from Liverpool in England, recently quit after the government refused to back him to take the reins of the new Fire Rescue Victoria agency, which will include all paid MFB and CFA firefighters from the middle of next year.
The Herald Sun has been told Canadian firefighter Ken Block — who is close to Mr Marshall — is likely to be appointed to the top job soon. He interviewed unsuccessfully for the MFB position taken by Mr Stephens last year.
In July, Mr Andrews said he did not know if the IBAC investigation involved his staff or MPs. “I have not been spoken to, no one in my office has been spoken to,” he said.