Two employees of Victoria’s Building Authority have been charged with criminal offences following raids by the state’s corruption watchdog.
The offences relate to the assessment of builder registrations in exchange for a financial benefit, the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission said in a statement.
“Today IBAC conducted searches at a number of premises under warrant,” it said on Wednesday.
“Following this activity, two Victorian Building Authority (VBA) employees have been charged with criminal offences relating to the assessment of builder registrations, in exchange for a financial benefit.
“These actions against key persons of interest are a result of IBAC’s Operation Perseus – an investigation into allegations of corrupt conduct at the VBA related to the assessment of builder registrations, in exchange for a financial benefit.”
Third employee under investigation
VBA chief executive Anna Cronin confirmed the two employees had been stood down, as well as a third who is under investigation.
“Today IBAC notified us they have charged two employees with criminal offences and are investigating a third,” Ms Cronin said in a statement on Wednesday.
“The employees involved have been stood down by the Victorian Building Authority with immediate effect.
“The VBA is now reviewing any impacts of this alleged activity to ensure the integrity of our systems.”
VBA had referred suspicious activity to IBAC last June and has been supporting the investigation since then, she said.
Building and plumbing watchdog
As the state’s building regulator, VBA oversees compliance and enforcement and takes action against practitioners for non-compliance, including issuing directions to fix, rectification notices and taking disciplinary actions or prosecuting.
It also audits and inspects building sites, plumbing work and the work of building surveyors.
IBAC’s action comes after the state government last month announced new governance arrangements at the embattled statutory government authority, with the multi-commissioner governing body replaced by Ms Cronin as the sole commissioner.
Last September, VBA was charged by Worksafe after an inspector took their own life in May 2022.
IBAC said investigations are continuing.
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If we are expected to be white, then we expect the VBA to be whiter than white
Building Surveyor
This situation does not surprise me any longer. Ever since the building construction/ compliance/inspection services were taken away from local government in the early nineties and privatised the system in general has gone downhill to the detriment of people who are having homes/apartments constructed or commercial buildings. Note I would like to see the outcome of this and indeed whether the matter will be referred to the Attorney General and DPP for what appears to be necessary action required
VBA need more attention and need to take immediate action for doggy builders in Victoria. Lot of innocent customers financially and mentally straggle including me near four years.