IBAC’s secret witness grillings revealed in report drop

Independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption Commissioner has revealed there has been a dramatic increase in the agency’s use of closed-door hearings.

The state’s anti-corruption watchdog spent 115 days in 2021-22 grilling witnesses in closed-door hearings, more than double the number of the previous year.

Independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption Commissioner Robert Redlich, KC, revealed the dramatic increase in the agency’s use of closed-door hearings in his annual report, tabled in parliament late on Tuesday.

The IBAC document was one of an incredible 265 annual reports from a host of Victorian public services released just before 6pm, prompting the parliamentary website to briefly crash amid a surge in traffic.

The reports could not be released until after the election was completed because they must be tabled when parliament sits.

But the late tabling of so many reports detailing the workings of government promoted criticism that the government was avoiding accountability.

IBAC Commissioner Robert Redlich highlighted the dramatic increase in the agency’s use of closed-door hearings in his annual report.

When asked whether this was a bad look, Premier Daniel Andrews defended the timetable, saying a national shortage of auditors, who are required to sign off on each report, had contributed to the problem.

In the IBAC report, Mr Redlich also revealed the agency was being inundated with reports of suspected misconduct and corruption, and needed more money and staff to triage reports in a reasonable time.

In the year to June, the agency received 3728 corruption allegations.

The overwhelming majority of allegations were dismissed or referred to another agency, with IBAC itself only commencing 18 new investigations and 12 preliminary inquiries.

“Such an increase continues to challenge IBAC’s ability to assess and respond in a timely manner,” the report said.

The 3728 allegations represented an increase of more than 30 per cent compared to the previous year.

Just 52 per cent of complaints about police conduct and corruption were assessed within 45 days.

Even fewer reports about the wider public sector – 38 per cent – were assessed within 45 days.

The report said: “It is noted that results against this measure are unlikely to improve if the increase in complaints continues without additional funding and resources.”

The agency received more cash in the most recent state budget, but said it would need even more to assess corruption reports on time.

The bulk of allegations assessed in the year ending in June were largely to do with “inaction” and “breaching professional boundaries”.

Among the areas IBAC focuses its limited investigative resources on are high-risk police units, high-risk public sector agencies, major infrastructure projects, undue influence and the use of force on people at risk.

On Tuesday, the state opposition introduced Bills to fast-track the publishing of IBAC reports, and to give the watchdog greater powers.

The Bills would restore the power of IBAC to hold public hearings, would restrict the provision of advance copies of reports, and expedite legal processes that may otherwise be used to unreasonably obstruct the tabling of reports.