The Victorian Parliament’s Integrity and Oversight Committee has today tabled its report on the adequacy of the annual budget of the Independent Broad‑based Anti‑corruption Commission, the Victorian Ombudsman and Integrity Oversight Victoria.
The inquiry examined whether Victoria’s integrity agencies are sufficiently resourced to perform their functions effectively and independently, in accordance with their statutory responsibilities and the expectations of Parliament.
The Committee identified constraints on its access to information about the budget process. While legislation requires consultation on integrity agency budgets, long‑standing conventions relating to Cabinet‑in‑Confidence and Executive Privilege prevent access to budget bids, financial modelling and base review reports that inform Cabinet decisions.
The Committee also considered issues of funding independence and transparency. Integrity agencies occupy a distinctive position, in that they must seek funding through executive‑led processes while undertaking oversight functions that may directly affect the Executive Government.
“Without access to the information that informs funding decisions, parliamentary oversight of integrity agency budgets is constrained,” said Committee Chair, Dr Tim Read.
“This has implications for transparency and for the effective discharge of the Committee’s statutory functions.”
The Committee made 18 recommendations to improve transparency, accountability and processes governing integrity agency funding. These include recommendations relating to the treatment of budget bids, the provision of reasons for funding decisions, the use of Treasurer’s Advances, and regular independent reviews of integrity agencies’ base funding to provide a robust and transparent basis for assessing resourcing needs over time.
The report is available on the Committee’s website.
