By Phillip Weiss

This blog presents the findings of recent IBAC surveys exploring perceptions of corruption among Councillors and Members of Parliament in Victoria.

IBAC has recently conducted online surveys with Councillors and Members of Parliament (MPs) about their perceptions of corruption. The public’s trust in Victoria’s public sector can be undermined by concerns about corruption. For people to report suspected corruption, they need to be aware of these problems, know how to report them, and have confidence that they will be taken seriously and protected.

IBAC conducts surveys periodically to understand perceptions about corruption and police misconduct in Victoria. In 2023, IBAC conducted online surveys with Councillors and MPs for the first time. In May this year, IBAC emailed Victorian local government Councillors and MPs inviting them to participate in a perceptions of corruption survey. Overall, the response rate was 21% for Councillors and 22% for MPs. The responses were anonymous.

The surveys explored:

• perceptions of IBAC
• perceived prevalence of corruption among elected officials
• understanding of the likelihood or risk of improper behaviours occurring that are corrupt
• the likelihood to report corruption, if observed, and to whom.

IBAC Executive Director Prevention and Communication. Dr Linda Timothy, said:

“It is important to hear the views of Victoria’s elected representatives so we can identify gaps in our knowledge and discover opportunities to address corruption risks and vulnerabilities in the public sector.”

A majority of Councillors and MPs who responded perceived corruption as a problem.

Two in three MPs think corruption is a problem in Victoria, and 61% agree it is a problem among elected officials. Among Councillors, almost three-quarters think corruption is a problem in Victoria, and 59% think it’s a problem among elected officials. Interestingly, while the majority of respondents thought corruption is a problem, most did not think it was a problem in their own backyards. Only 14% of Councillors considered their Council highly vulnerable to corruption, and only 11% of MPs considered Parliament highly vulnerable to corruption.

Behaviours identified as most likely to be a ‘high risk’ were:

• Favouritism/nepotism
• Misuse of resources
• Breach of professional boundaries, such as bullying and harassment.

IBAC noted that there are ‘shades of grey’ that make it less clear when inappropriate behaviour becomes corrupt, which can lead to some corruption going unreported. Therefore, training and education may be warranted.

Most elected representatives agreed that they would report corrupt behaviour if they observed it. A majority of Councillors MPs stated they know how to report corruption. MPs stated they would report it to IBAC. Councillors would generally report to the Council CEO, the Local Government Inspectorate, or IBAC.

Most Councillors and MPs stated that it is difficult to find definite guidance when seeking advice on corruption. The surveys provided valuable information about the corruption perceptions and knowledge of Councillors and MPs.

IBAC has identified opportunities for improvement including:

• playing a role in information dissemination and education
• raising awareness about how to report corruption
• raising awareness of the mechanisms in place to protect ‘whistleblowers’ for those who have concerns about reporting corruption, and
• enhancing confidence in IBAC’s investigative capabilities.

The IBAC surveys reveal notable perceptions of corruption among Victoria’s Councillors and MPs, highlighting general concerns and identifying potential areas for improvement in awareness, reporting mechanisms, and protective measures for individuals reporting corruption.

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A participant in the UN Global Compact, CourtHeath seeks to raise awareness about the Sustainable Development Goals and the principles of the Global Compact with business and government organisations in Victoria.

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IMAGE: Used under licence from shutterstock.com

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