Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commissioner Victoria Elliott, the IBAC chief, pushes for greater powers to fight corruption

While investigations and “special reports” on major investigations tabled in parliament aroused public interest and debate, Elliott pointed out that much of IBAC’s work had to be kept secret. For example, most of IBAC’s 40 recommendations to the government and its agencies in the last financial year were specific.

“The same goes for the many investigations we carry out and their results. Last year, we reviewed more than 200 investigations by the police.”

More transparency “will help build trust and confidence in the system and encourage more people to come forward and report,” Elliott said.

The lawyer and former deputy head of Public Interest Watch’s small and confidential Office worked as a managing lawyer at IBAC from 2013 to 2016. He previously worked for the now-defunct Police Integrity Bureau.

Unlike his predecessor, the outspoken Robert Redlich, Elliott has no legal experience and is little known in political and legal circles.

When Age clarified After his appointment two years ago, both the opposition and senior legal figures questioned whether he had experience and dignity holding an entrenched Labor government to account; they still do it.

It was a rocky start in a business described as. “poisoned chalice” by political insiders due to the increasingly hostile relationship between Redlich and former prime minister Daniel Andrews.

Elliott insists the criticism doesn’t bother him. “I’ve been working in the field of integrity for over 25 years. I just got into this role, I’ve continued my work. I think the work speaks for itself.”

When asked about his achievements in his two years in office, Elliott said he was “incredibly proud” of IBAC’s success in research. Focused Police Complaints Team The body that investigates police complaints from people who are at higher risk of police misconduct, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

He also pointed out that “Allegations of Corruption and Abuse” had been initiated. Control Panel” which details the type of allegations IBAC receives across the public sector, including the police.

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But his job (his annual salary is around $500,000) will get easier with some important reforms.

Since 2022, IBAC has been pressuring the government to expand its scope by lowering the bar for launching investigations. Currently, the definition of corruption is limited to “relevant” or serious criminal conduct. This definition excludes the more common pursuit of “soft” or “gray” corruption, the business style of political friends.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption, the NSW equivalent of IBAC, has a broader remit that extends to dishonesty, breaches of public trust and MPs’ codes of conduct. The Albanian government’s National Anti-Corruption Commission has adopted a lower threshold for investigations, better suited to NSW rather than Victoria.

“We have a very high definition of corruption, the highest in the country,” Elliott said. “The testing is too high in the sense that it doesn’t allow us to look at the level of severity or systemic issues that I think the public expects us to look at.”

He said in the 13 years since its founding, IBAC has learned a lot by looking at other jurisdictions. “We want our legislation to be more contemporary and in line with the majority of anti-corruption institutions across the country.”

For example, in 2023, the NSW ICAC ended the political career of then-premier Gladys Berejiklian, finding serious corrupt behavior due to conflicts of interest in her personal relationship with former MP Daryl Maguire.

If it was in Victoria not likely An investigation would be launched. But if that were the case, it is doubtful the prime minister would be publicly grilled as Berejiklian was.

IBAC also pushed for lowering the threshold for public examinations. Victorian rules require public grilling can only take place when there are “exceptional circumstances”. Elliott said this was an unnecessary situation that prevented the public from learning about IBAC’s research and activities.

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He said that “this would be possible” if given powers to “follow the dollar”. [IBAC] ensuring the transfer of public funds to the private sector and looking at complex contractual arrangements with subcontractors and multiple subcontractors”.

He did not comment on whether the request was related to any investigation into the construction industry. He is not even allowed to acknowledge whether such an investigation is ongoing.

However, in mid-2024, Prime Minister Jacinta Allan confirmed that she had referred allegations of corruption in the construction industry to IBAC and Victoria Police.

Elliott said the enhanced “follow the dollar” powers would increase IBAC’s research scope and therefore its public output and profile.

“We think there’s more to say about our work, and we want to say that. People outside IBAC don’t know what’s going on inside. But when you’re here, you see there’s so much going on.”

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roycemillar@protonmail.com