The OPI decided to refer the matter to Victoria Police for investigation, however, that decision was subject to legal proceedings, which resulted in the Court of Appeal returning the matter to IBAC to make a fresh decision in relation to the correct course for dealing with the complaint. The conduct was part of a lawful process which required the Court to consider certain documents relating to the witness, in the public interest. one prison officer attempted to use their position to influence the transfer of a current prisoner. This position reports to the Manager Governance and Risk and has key responsibilities to support the embedding of appropriate governance and integrity practices into corporate processes, including monitoring compliance. We informed all interested parties of this outcome, including the Chief Commissioner of Police. CV advised that it did not consider further action was required in relation to other prison facilities under its control, as procurement policies and procedures overseen by the Department of Justice and Regulation (DJR), have been assessed as adequate. In the course of the investigation, IBAC identified several issues with VicRoads policies, processes and practices. As a result of IBAC's investigation, three corrections officers were dismissed in December 2015. Procurement operating work instructions have been refined to include additional fraud detection checklists. Operation Panarea was an investigation into a notification from VicRoads regarding allegations of suspected corrupt conduct relating to inappropriate procurement practices by employees at one of its depots. A further two officers returned negative drug tests but later made admissions under oath to using illicit drugs during their police careers. In order to strengthen governance oversight during significant emergencies and disasters, and in response to Operational Lockhart, the Council has combined the functions of emergency (and disaster) preparedness planning and business continuity planning under a single coordination role. VicRoads has established a procurement action plan, enabled by technology, with defined roles and accountabilities to extract the optimal level of value from procurement activities, supported by internal support programs to help incorporate business experience to the procurement function, as well as providing risk and compliance insights. IBAC's work to prevent and expose public sector corruption and police misconduct continues within the parameters of public health safety precautions. A Fraud and Corruption Risk Audit was conducted in respect of the University's Financial Services Group by PricewaterhouseCoopers. VicRoads maintains a comprehensive employee awareness and training framework underpinned by the Code of Conduct for Victorian Public Sector employees. IBAC investigated bribery allegations concerning three former employees from a public body licensing team. An IBAC review uncovered "defects in the planning and scoping of the investigation" into the leaking of Jay's safety plan, which it said extended to a "failure to accurately and appropriately particularise the allegations which impacted on the course and quality of the investigation". Over the past two years we have focussed on building and strengthening our integrity program. All requisitions are audited by the Procurement team, any non- compliance is registered on Council's non-compliance register and reported accordingly to the Executive team. While not constituting corrupt conduct, IBAC found there had been a breach of duty in allowing two senior employees to operate as trustees two years after their tenure expired, and that the pair breached their duty as trustees in supporting a union initiative, which they were personally involved in, and not declaring a conflict of interest. This person pleaded guilty, was fined $8,000 and sentenced to 200 hours of community work. • unauthorised work by council employees, using council materials, in return for cash payments failed to follow procedure to ensure a close associate avoided prosecution. Further financial training will be made available to managers to assist them in utilising this information. lack of oversight by senior management including evidence of poor workplace performance and supervision. The program was used as the basis for funding from the Department of Health and Human Services. It was also alleged the former employee had an undeclared financial interest in their partner’s private business. The Commissioner can also investigate serious or systemic misconduct and maladministration in public administration. The notifier also alleged that he was approached by a council officer soliciting a bribe. IBAC received information alleging that a member of the public had offered bribes to employees of Greater Melbourne Cemetery Trust (GMCT) in return for allocating a grave site at a particular cemetery. Our investigation found the member had released information as part of an application to the Supreme Court of Victoria. A number of current and former employees of the public body’s licencing team engaged in significant gambling, and at least two of those employees had incurred substantial debts. In some instances, it was alleged that bribes were solicited in return for expediting the licence application process. ... an investigations … The investigator had struck an agreement with a person charged with serious offences, who had undertaken to provide the information. IBAC Commissioner Robert Redlich QC. However due to poor processes and systems, the lack of data quality assurance meant there was insufficient evidence for IBAC to proceed with a prosecution. Our investigation did not substantiate any of the above allegations and no indictable offences were discovered. In May 2013, Victoria Police notified us of an internal complaint regarding an investigation codenamed Operation Plyers, an offshoot from the Petra Taskforce which had commenced in 2008. It was alleged a beachside property owned by a union member, was rented by the regulatory body to house disadvantaged apprentices but was instead used as a holiday house by a trade union secretary. The audit made, and the University accepted, five recommendations which related to: The University has selected a fraud risk continuous monitoring solution that meets the University's requirements. Other information security issues associated with VicRoads databases, including Lotus Notes databases. The officer resigned under investigation from Victoria Police the day before a discipline hearing was to take place in November 2015. It was alleged an employee had engaged in serious corrupt conduct by improperly using their position to provide business opportunities for their partner. The new code makes clear the organisation's expectation that employees must adhere to the new values. failed to declare his familial connection with the subcontractors, was directly and inappropriately involved in the management of subcontractors, and their invoicing. IBAC did not substantiate the allegations relating to the employee purchasing goods from their private company. Implementation will commence from March 2019. The investigation failed to identify any serious corrupt conduct regarding this allegation. The IBAC investigation confirmed fraudulent purchasing but did not substantiate the other allegations. View the Special report on corruption risks associated with procurement in local government and the Council's response to IBAC's recommendations. It was alleged that one staff member facilitated the transaction and accepted money from the member of the public. In addition to the work outlined above, the importance of the code of conduct principles will be further reinforced at a council planning workshop in 2017. Our investigation was unable to find any evidence of this specific allegation, however there was an occasion where a councillor and a director of the council had unsuccessfully attempted to use their positions to influence the outcomes of two tender processes in favour of the builders. On 27 January 2017, IBAC tabled a report before Parliament on its findings and recommendations following an investigation into the conduct of officers of the Department of Education and Training (DET) in connection with the Ultranet project and related matters. The inspector then attended the scene of the incident in his official capacity. Victoria Police has provided IBAC with a progress report (and will provide a final report by 30 June 2018) on development and implementation of a more robust framework to prevent and detect police illicit drug use. Nor were disciplinary charges proceeded with after the officers were deemed to be medically unfit. In August 2018, VicRoads Chief Executive Officer provided a response to IBAC, outlining the key actions it had taken to address the issues and corruption vulnerabilities identified in Operation Panarea. It was also alleged a councillor used his position to assume the chair of a tender evaluation panel for a local project, and influence the outcome of the process to favour a company of builders. As the allegation was that activity had occurred in the past, Operation Fraser focused on whether the officer had current criminal associations and if so, whether he was using his council employment for their benefit. In August 2020, the Council wrote to IBAC outlining actions it had taken to address the identified corruption vulnerabilities. In December 2017 and January 2018, IBAC received notifications from the Victorian Ombudsman and the (then) Department of Justice and Regulation regarding the conduct of a corrections officer employed at Fulham Correctional Centre. IBAC identified opportunities for the Murrindindi Shire Council to strengthen its policies, procedures and practices to address the corruption vulnerabilities identified in this investigation. CV advised that DPFC has made a number of changes to its procurement practices since the commencement of Operation Nepean. Whole-of-Department monthly reports are run and monitored by a Systems Officer, who is independent of the Direct Care Team (service delivery). IBAC identified a number of corruption vulnerabilities relating to internal reporting, purchasing procedures, asset management, cash handling and information security that contributed to this conduct continuing undetected by the Council for a number of years. Fraud Prevention and Disclosures of Interest. VicRoads are supporting the Registration & Licensing leadership team to develop a targeted role-based training platform aimed at managers, team leaders and operational staff who perform supervisory functions. Some of the corruption vulnerabilities identified in Operation Barron around information security access may be mitigated by measures VicRoads is progressing under its PDSP. In addition, VicRoads' PDSP security uplift program of works includes a security risk profile assessment of the organisation’s critical information assets, including the development of treatment plans for implementation across 2018/19. Due to a complete absence of formal paperwork and controls, the IBAC investigation could not substantiate that the properties in question had been used for personal or other interests. The allegations made were that a target of Operation Clinique (Target 1) recounted that another target (Target 2) had received information concerning covert methodologies being used in the investigation of him. IBAC identified opportunities to strengthen Victoria Police policies, and oversight of, the conduct of police prosecutors. In 2017, IBAC commenced Operation Genoa following a Victoria Police notification that information had been received that a Detective Leading Senior Constable was attending an adult entertainment venue and associating with the manager. The officer was accused of interfering in favour of the person charged with the speeding offence, by downgrading their charges. revising and strengthening its procurement policy, developingtraining related to procurement policies and procedures, reviewing procedures for purchasing cards and petty cash handling, developing an independent record keeping system designed to identify and investigate irregularities, strengthening information security processes and risk assessments. An allegation was made that police officers at a metropolitan police station were falsely issuing penalty notices. This includes independent oversight of policing of public health directions. IBAC subsequently made recommendations to address these vulnerabilities, namely that MP review its policies, systems and practices in relation to procurement, conflict of interest, record keeping, information systems and private use of assets by employees, and associated education and training for staff. The woman, who had been arrested for public drunkenness, was later revealed to be a serving police officer on leave for medical reasons. This will then enable the release to all existing staff via communications in January/February reminding people of their user obligations and getting all computer users to formally acknowledge that obligation. The alleged conduct occurred while the Council was engaged in disaster recovery in the aftermath of the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. In November 2018, the Department wrote to IBAC outlining the following actions it had taken to address the corruption vulnerabilities identified in Operation Tarlo. Staff are also provided with regular examples of professional boundary issues, including a reminder in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the new values form part of the organisation's performance management framework. A revised Purchasing Card Operational Policy has been developed and a process is in place that requires the approval of a General Manager before gift vouchers are purchased. The outcomes of the review identified there are two key areas within Council that have a higher volume of minor assets, these being IT and the Depot. Following that investigation, IBAC brought charges against the person who allegedly attempted to bribe an employee of the cemetery trust. The new IBAC Commissioner Robert Redlich QC has stated that IBAC's current powers to investigate police misconduct are inadequate and not fit for purpose. In January 2015, IBAC commenced Operation Ettrick to investigate these allegations. He failed to declare or manage his clear conflict of interest, and failed to act impartially as he used his power to provide a benefit to his relatives. The Council has reviewed its Procurement Policy and associated guidelines several times following Operation Lockhart. In October 2016, Security Risk Assessment work was completed. He resigned in June 2015. The matter was referred to the Victorian Ombudsman to consider. In early 2013, we received information about possible unauthorised access to the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) financial transactions database, by a Victoria Police officer. influenced the successful recruitment of another son, as a senior prison officer at DPFC in the facilities department. Given the seriousness of the allegations, the complaint proceeded to investigation. IBAC is now considering referring the matter to Victoria Police. The University has reviewed its fraud and corruption control framework, the Compliance and Audit Risk Committee has endorsed the new policy and procedure, and it will be formally enacted and implemented. IBAC commenced Operation Barron to identify the extent of this alleged offending. The investigation was the subject of a special report to Parliament in September 2019. Mr Hardinge was charged and subsequently pleaded guilty to seven charges of theft, one charge of obtaining property by deception, and one charge of attempting to obtain financial advantage by deception. "The greater potential for an IBAC investigation to unreasonably harm a person's reputation." IT has a communications plan developed that will address a number of security risk elements including password sharing. As part of IBAC's investigation, public hearings were held at Ballarat Law Courts in May 2016. These were mostly for smoking in the local mall against known offenders, without the notices ever being served on the offender. VicRoads has also introduced targeted specialist training on procurement 'red flags', including Supplier Category Management & Relationships and Procurement Negotiation Training. The investigation results were provided to the Local Government Compliance Inspectorate for their further action/review. People and Culture are currently undertaking the business unit level risk assessment process. The issues included an apparent culture within the relevant business unit of employees accepting gifts, benefits and hospitality from suppliers, and a failure to comply with VicRoads conflict of interest and procurement policies. On receiving a notification from the Local Government Investigations and Compliance Inspectorate (LGICI), we investigated allegations that a Councillor received bribes to support planning proposals. In December 2014, IBAC received a complaint alleging a Latrobe City Council employee was inflating the attendance records for an aged care community program. DJCS wrote to the private prison provider about this matter on 14 October 2016 and the private prison provider responded on 6 February 2017. Similarly, a Melbourne property rented for apprentices to live in was used for other purposes. 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