Accountability Round Table backs IBAC Commissioner: Victoria needs stronger integrity powers now
The Accountability Round Table has backed the IBAC Commissioner’s call for stronger powers, warning that Victoria’s integrity system is failing to keep pace with the reality of modern public decision making.
ART Chair Sophie Torney said the current framework leaves too much damaging behaviour beyond IBAC’s reach.
“Victoria can’t keep pretending that corruption only exists when it meets a criminal threshold. The real harm is in the grey zone – political favour trading, undisclosed influence and decisions shaped behind closed doors. That’s where public trust is being eroded and that’s exactly where IBAC is currently barred from acting.”
Sophie Torney, Chair, Accountability Round Table
IBAC’s limited jurisdiction and high investigation threshold allow systemic integrity risks to fester, especially in planning, major projects, public appointments and political fundraising.
Accountability Round Table Director and former IBAC Commissioner, Robert Redlich, KC, said stronger powers are essential if Victoria wants an integrity commission that can actually expose wrongdoing.
“Our submission to the Integrity and Oversight Committee’s review of IBAC’s legislative framework set out these reforms clearly and IBAC’s own submission made the same recommendations.”
The current IBAC Commissioner and I gave evidence in support. The path is clear, and there is every reason to be optimistic that the Committee will endorse these changes.”
Robert Redlich KC, Director, Accountability Round Table
The Accountability Round Table says strengthening IBAC is now urgent, not optional. The organisation is calling for:
1. Lower investigation thresholds so IBAC can act before misconduct becomes criminal.
2. Restoring genuine public hearings – reversing the “public hearings by exception” rule so major matters are examined openly and not kept secret.
3. Greater publication powers so the public can see what integrity risks exist and how they’re dealt with.
4. Independent resourcing so investigations aren’t constrained by political decisions.
Victorians deserve a watchdog with teeth. Right now, IBAC is expected to hold powerful people to account but isn’t given the tools to do the job. If we want honest government, the watchdog must be able to act on the behaviour the public can see is wrong.