Parks Victoria chief stands down as anti-corruption watchdog asked to investigate

THE chief executive of Parks Victoria has stood down and the state’s anti-corruption watchdog will investigate allegations about his behaviour.

Parks Victoria Chief Executive Bradley Fauteux at the Twelve Apostles.

PARKS Victoria chief executive Bradley Fauteux has been stood down and allegations he broke the public sector code of conduct have been sent to the state’s anti-corruption watchdog.

A statement from Parks Victoria chair Andrew Fairley said Mr Fauteux’s “termination by the Parks Victoria board comes as a result of unacceptable conduct in relation to integrity which was in breach of the Parks Victoria Values and Ethics policy and the Victorian Public Sector Code of Conduct”.

While the allegations, which are understood not to include improper spending of public funds, have been sent to the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission it is not clear whether it will investigate.

A senior source said the matter relates to an alleged “breach of integrity related to an improper commitment” made by Mr Fauteux.

Mr Fauteux is on leave overseas and could not be contacted.

Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said yesterday that Mr Fauteux’s behaviour was under investigation but said only that this related to “undermining of certain standards that are required of members of the public service”.

“These matters are very sensitive matters, they are very serious matters. That is why the board has taken the decision they have taken and they have resolved to refer certain matters to IBAC. ”

“Those matters will be referred to IBAC. We need to let the process that is open to the board which they’ve now resolved to take, we need to allow that process to take effect.”

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