IBAC Report Finds Deal Between Ministers and Fire Union

A long-awaited corruption watchdog report has found senior Victorian government officials engaged in "serious and concerning conduct" by negotiating a secret deal with the firefighters' union, undermining established government processes and granting the union "extraordinary influence." The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission tabled its Operation Richmond special report in the Victorian parliament on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, concluding an eight-year investigation.

The investigation examined allegations of corrupt conduct during 2016 enterprise bargaining agreement negotiations between the former Andrews Labor government and the United Firefighters Union, led by its secretary, Peter Marshall. IBAC found no evidence to support initial allegations of blackmail or corrupt conduct as defined by Victorian law. However, it identified significant breaches of policy, procedure, and codes of conduct.

The commission found that then-Premier Daniel Andrews authorized then-Special Minister of State Gavin Jennings and a senior departmental official, Tony Bates, to conduct four days of undisclosed negotiations with Marshall in 2016. These meetings, held in rented spaces and a...