The Andrews Labor Government today released discussion papers focusing on the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC), the Auditor-General and the Victorian Ombudsman as part of its ongoing work to deliver a robust integrity and accountability system for Victoria.
Victoria’s integrity bodies play a critical role by providing avenues for independent review and oversight of the public sector’s activities, reducing corruption and ensuring better governance.
The discussion papers invite community input on:
- IBAC’s role in preventing corruption in the public sector
- the role and functions of the Auditor-General
- the Ombudsman’s role, to ensure it remains relevant and dynamic
This consultation builds on the important reforms that the Labor Government introduced to Parliament in December, which included strengthening the powers of IBAC, allowing the Auditor-General to “follow-the-dollar” and improving access to the Ombudsman’s office.
The Labor Government is also committed to reform of the Freedom of Information (FOI) system, with the establishment of a new Office of the Public Access Counsellor and improved response times for FOI requests. A Bill to enact these changes will be introduced into Parliament in the first half of 2016.
The discussion papers are available at , and submissions close on 20 May 2016.
Quotes attributable to Special Minister of State Gavin Jennings
“We are delivering the modern and effective integrity regime that will ensure the highest standards of conduct within the public sector.”
“We are now seeking the community’s views through these discussion papers to explore further opportunities for reform, giving our integrity agencies the tools they need to do their job.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020