Senior Victorian public servants hid $257m in wrongful grants
An anti-corruption inquiry found that senior Victorian public servants deliberately hid information. More than $257 million in wrongful pandemic payments were involved.
Victoria's anti-corruption watchdog IBAC found that senior public servants deliberately hid wrongful payments. More than $257 million went to 9,000 ineligible businesses between 2021 and 2022.
The associate secretary and deputy secretary hid information from the department head and Industry Minister Martin Pakula. Some businesses falsely backdated their tax registration to get grants.
False information was given about them. Even after the problem was found, the department did not act.
Ineligible and fraudulent businesses kept getting grants. Once the suspected loss reached more than $285 million, a report was changed.
Information was removed from it. IBAC Commissioner Victoria Elliott said the conduct broke the public sector code.
It showed a lack of leadership and integrity. Officers spoke up.
Their leaders ignored them. The government could not respond quickly to the suspected fraud.
- 257 million dollars
- Amount of wrongful payments
- 9,000
- Ineligible businesses
- 2021 to 2022
- Period affected
- 285 million dollars
- Suspected total loss threshold
Why it mattersTaxpayers lost $257 million. Senior public servants deliberately hid the corruption. They blocked accountability.
AustraliaAffects Victorian government's credibility weeks before state election; exposes systemic failures in pandemic grant administration.
Corroborated bythenightly.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 57 min ago
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