Corruption watchdog strengthened on final day of Victorian parliament

On the last sitting day before the state election, Victoria’s parliament agreed to substantial reforms for IBAC, the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission. These reforms, supported by the government and opposition, as well as the Greens, empower IBAC with new investigative powers such as holding public hearings without demonstrating exceptional circumstances, and following-the-dollar to investigate any business or individual receiving public money. The Centre for Public Integrity’s Catherine Williams hailed these changes as significant progress since 2012 when IBAC was first established. These reforms are aimed at cracking down on "grey corruption," a term often used for unethical but not illegal practices in government, and allow IBAC to probe third parties involved with public contracts, such as subcontractors on major construction projects.