$139.5 million to put the IBAC anti-corruption laws to work
The Victorian Government has announced $139.5 million for the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC), the Victorian Ombudsman and Integrity Oversight Victoria, to help them put the new IBAC anti-corruption laws into practice. The announcement came on 22 October 2026, about a month after the laws passed the Victorian Parliament on 24 September. The Government says the funding means the three agencies can begin their work under the new laws immediately.
Special Minister of State Ingrid Stitt said the Government had strengthened IBAC’s powers and was now providing an immediate uplift in resources to stamp out corruption.
What the new laws change for IBAC
- Under the IBAC anti-corruption laws, the threshold of conduct that IBAC can investigate has been lowered. Corrupt conduct now extends to serious disciplinary matters, including serious misconduct and conduct worthy of termination.
- A specific provision covers elected officials, including Ministers, MPs and local councillors.
- IBAC gets follow-the-money powers to trace public funds, which lets it investigate the conduct of private and third-party subcontractors on Government projects.
- The threshold for convening public hearings is lower, because the exceptional circumstances provision has been removed.
More of IBAC’s work will be public
The laws also set up a legislated process for recruiting IBAC Commissioners. IBAC’s budget requests and the Ministerial Code of Conduct will now be published online as well.
Who the changes reach
The IBAC anti-corruption laws apply to Victoria’s integrity agencies, to elected officials at state and local level, and to private and third-party subcontractors working on Government projects.
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General information only, not legal advice. Check the official source before acting.
Source: Victorian Government. Licence: CC BY 4.0.
