Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, anonymous reports are accepted. However, anonymity may limit the commission’s ability to investigate or provide updates. By using our online form, you can remain in contact with us via encrypted messaging, as well as accessing updates about your matter. In this way, if you wish to remain anonymous, we can still communicate with you and update you on your complaint.

The commission treats all reports with strict confidentiality, sharing information only with authorised personnel or other agencies involved in the investigation. The commission will not disclose any information contained in reports unless:

• it considers it necessary to prevent or reduce the risk of harm to a person’s health, safety or welfare
• it is required to do so under the Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Act 2024 (Vic) or any other legislation
• the disclosure is to one of the entities specified under the Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Act 2024 (Vic)
• it is necessary to comply with its notification obligations in relation to public interest disclosures under the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012 (Vic) or corrupt conduct under the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2011 (Vic).

Yes. Our referral forms and case-management information are securely managed by Elker, a trusted platform that complies with all legislative requirements for privacy and data security. Learn more about Elker’s security measures at Elker Trust & Security.

The commission is committed to protecting your privacy. Detailed information can be found in our Privacy policy.

The commission focuses on parliamentary misconduct of members of parliament, ministers, and parliamentary secretaries.

IBAC investigates complaints of corruption and police misconduct across the Victorian public sector, including Victoria Police.

The Victorian Ombudsman deals with general complaints about Victorian public organisations.

We are overseen by the Victorian Inspectorate and the Integrity and Oversight Committee of Parliament. We do not take direction from any Minister or the Premier when performing our functions.

No, the commission does not offer legal advice. If you require legal assistance, please consult a lawyer or legal aid service.

Parliamentary misconduct includes breaches of the Members of Parliament Code of Conduct, misuse of parliamentary allowances, and inappropriate workplace behaviour such as bullying, harassment, or discrimination. It includes:

• a contravention of the members of parliament code of conduct under Members of Parliament (Standards) Act 1978 (Vic) part 3 (MPS Act)
• a wilful, repeated or deliberate contravention of MPS Act part 4, which is the Register of Interests
• wilful, repeated or deliberate misuse of work-related parliamentary allowances
• wilful, repeated or deliberate misuse of the Electorate Office and Communications Budget provided to the member under Parliamentary Salaries, Allowances and Superannuation Act 1968 (Vic) section 7F.
• inappropriate parliamentary workplace behaviour as defined in the Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Act 2024 (Vic) – which includes bullying, harassment (including sexual harassment), discrimination, victimisation or occupational violence or aggression.

Serious parliamentary misconduct means parliamentary misconduct that:

• is intentional, wilful or deliberate
• occurs frequently or forms part of a pattern of behaviour
• would provide reasonable grounds for vacating a Member's seat.

The difference between a public interest disclosure, a public interest complaint and a report of misconduct is outlined in the table below.

No. The commission can only receive reports about members of parliament, ministers and parliamentary secretaries.

Yes, reports can be made about any misconduct by a member of parliament, minister or parliamentary secretary.

However, if you wish to provide further information in relation to the same instance of alleged misconduct you do not need to create another report. You are able to add additional information to your report if needed.

You can contact the commission, IBAC or the Victorian Inspectorate for guidance and you can also make a referral or report to another integrity agency.

Our legislation does not limit a person who has made a referral to the commission from also making a complaint to another body or entity or otherwise seeking redress for their matter. This ensures that those who wish to report misconduct can deal with an issue as they wish.

The commission is able to defer dealing with a report or otherwise redirect it if it decides the matter will be dealt with more appropriately by another body.

The commission may request further information, documents, or request to conduct interviews if it considers it necessary for the purpose of conducting an investigation.

A person must be given a minimum of 28 days to respond to a request for further information or attend an interview.

Procedural fairness is followed, allowing the person being investigated to respond to allegations.

Procedural fairness ensures investigations are conducted fairly, giving individuals the chance to respond to findings.

Rules of evidence (for example, concern the way that evidence is received by the commission) do not bind the commission, allowing flexibility in considering relevant information.

Failure to comply without a valid excuse may result in sanctions or referral to parliament for further action.

Outcomes may include:

• dispute resolution
• sanctions such as public apologies, mandatory training or behavioural agreements
• recommendations for serious misconduct sanctions, including removal from roles.

Findings are reported to parliament and may be made public, depending on the case and legal requirements. We will advise you if your report is to be discussed publicly.

Time frames vary based on case complexity. The commission aims to act promptly and efficiently.

The commission is an independent agency and does not advocate for the referrer or the person who is the subject of the report. You will be treated fairly and receive the same opportunities to provide information and participate in the investigation process as the reporter. You can seek counselling and access the same supports listed on Resources and supports.

A confidential report of improper conduct or corruption involving MPs, ministers or parliamentary secretaries made under the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012 (Vic) with protections for whistleblowers.

A public interest disclosure assessed as requiring investigation, often referred to IBAC or another integrity agency, including the commission from 31 December 2024.

Reporters are protected from detrimental actions such as harassment, discrimination, or job loss. Details as to the full protections which are legislated, can be found in the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2012 (Vic) (Part 6).

Detrimental action includes retaliation against someone for reporting misconduct, such as bullying, harassment, discrimination or job loss.

A legal immunity that protects members of parliament from being sued or prosecuted for statements made in parliamentary proceedings. Misconduct protected by privilege cannot be investigated by the commission.

Sanctions are penalties for misconduct, including public apologies, mandatory training or removal from roles for serious violations.

Contact us. If you are not satisfied with our response, you can contact the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner.

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your report or its outcome, you can submit a complaint to the Victorian Inspectorate.

See our Resources and support page for additional contact information.

Please call 000 if you require emergency services or if you have safety concerns for you or someone else.

The Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Act 2024 allows up to three commissioners to be appointed to the commission, with one to be the chair of the commission. Each commissioner will be an independent officer of the Parliament. Commissioners will be required to collectively decide actions at key stages of receiving a report or during an investigation and can draw on their collective expertise.

Each commissioner has been appointed by the Governor-in-Council for up to 5 years. The responsible minister will propose appointments to the Integrity and Oversight Committee of Parliament, who must unanimously support the recommendation before a commissioner can be appointed.

There are strict eligibility requirements for the appointment of commissioners. Commissioners must be of good character and high standing in the community. They will need to have extensive knowledge, expertise or experience in one or more of the specified fields.

A person will not be eligible to be appointed if they are or have been a member of an Australian Parliament, Australian local council, registered political party or a registered lobbyist within the last 5 years. This is another important feature to reinforce the independence of commissioners and to safeguard against the politicisation of the commission.

The commission will be required to dismiss a referral if it considers that it is not supported by sufficient evidence. The commission can request further information before it makes a decision to dismiss a referral. The commission may also dismiss referrals that it considers, among other things, to be lacking in substance or credibility, trivial, frivolous or vexatious or otherwise not made in good faith.

The commission will be required to publish guidance on how and when it will dismiss referrals. This is to help reinforce that the Commission will not deal with politically motivated referrals that do not have merit.

The Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Act 2024 (Vic) also creates an offence with a penalty of up to 12 months imprisonment for any person who provides false or misleading information to the commission. This is intended to prevent any misleading referrals and to safeguard risks of politicising the commission.

Furthermore, if the commission completes an investigation and does not make any findings of parliamentary misconduct, the relevant member of parliament or minister will have the opportunity to express a preference for the investigation to stay confidential or for the report to be tabled in Parliament to clear their name.

The Integrity and Oversight Committee of Parliament will monitor, review and report to both houses of parliament on the performance of the commission.

The Victorian Inspectorate, an independent body established under the Victorian Inspectorate Act 2011 (Vic) will provide independent oversight of the Commission, ensuring compliance with procedural fairness, receiving complaints about the Commission and investigating the conduct of the Commission and its officers. The Inspector is independent of Parliament.

Our legislation provides that the commission must report annually on the number of:

• referrals received and dismissed
• public interest complaints received
• referrals that have been redirected
• referrals that have been investigated by the commission
• outcome reports.

The public is able to monitor referrals and allegations of misconduct. For example, the annual report is required to contain an analysis of the nature, scope and trends of parliamentary misconduct.