The Victorian Parliament’s Integrity and Oversight Committee has today tabled two reports relating to the performance of the state’s integrity agencies.
The Performance of Victoria’s Integrity Agencies 2023/24 and 2024/25 and Independent Performance Audits of the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission and Integrity Oversight Victoria reports were undertaken by O’Connor Marsden & Associates Pty Ltd (OCM).
The reports highlight progress made across Victoria’s integrity agencies, including:
- Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC): enhanced education and prevention activities;
- Integrity Oversight Victoria (IOV): strengthened oversight and inspection functions;
- Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner (OVIC): increased responsiveness to emerging privacy and information security challenges;
- Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Commission: establishment of the new agency;
- Victorian Ombudsman (VO): continued improvements to public administration.
The Committee’s report also identified common challenges across the integrity system that require continued attention, including improving timeliness, meeting performance targets, ensuring adequate resourcing, which includes that OVIC be funded directly through Parliament’s appropriation, and greater responsiveness to the importance of information management, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
“The Committee made seven recommendations directed to the Victorian Government and three of the five agencies, IBAC, OVIC and the Victorian Ombudsman, aimed at strengthening the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of Victoria’s integrity framework,” said Committee Chair Dr Tim Read.
The Committee also tabled independent performance audit reports of IBAC and IOV. The audits examined each agency’s performance during the period 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2025.
The auditor found that both IBAC and IOV had achieved the objectives set out in their respective governing legislation.
For IBAC, the auditor made 18 recommendations to improve operational effectiveness, timeliness, oversight, performance reporting, and strategic workforce and resource planning.
For IOV, the auditor made 13 recommendations to strengthen governance, oversight functions, organisational capability, technology and information systems, and evidence-based decision-making.
“The performance audits demonstrate that IBAC and IOV are effectively discharging their statutory responsibilities, while also identifying opportunities to further strengthen their performance and organisational capability,” Dr Read said.
The Committee also recommended amendments to the legislative framework governing independent performance audits to clarify auditors’ information-gathering powers and audit processes, while maintaining the independence and effectiveness of the Committee’s audit functions.
The reports are available on the Committee’s web page.
