Media under gag order over ‘secret’ IBAC probe

The state’s anti-corruption agency is fighting to ban major news outlets from publishing details of a top secret investigation.

IBAC Commissioner Robert Redlich took The Age to the Supreme Court to stop a story being published. Picture: James Ross

Victoria’s anti-corruption watchdog is fighting to ban news outlets from publishing details about one of its secret investigations.

Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commissioner Robert Redlich KC took The Age to the Supreme Court on Wednesday evening to stop a story from being published.

A Supreme Court hearing proceeded before Justice Greg Garde on Thursday morning, with IBAC seeking to have an order made to close the court and suppress information derived from a secret probe, and the court hearing.

The story concerned an IBAC investigation which has not been made public in any way to date.

The parties involved in the commission probe have recently received draft findings of its investigation, which are confidential under the IBAC Act.

It’s understood the contents of the draft findings were leaked to a political reporter from The Age newspaper, who sent detailed questions to other individuals.

IBAC was tipped off about the imminent story by one of the parties.

People given draft reports of commission probes are prevented from disclosing information under the IBAC Act, or they risk 12 months’ jail and a fine of $22,190.