| Circular Number | 2026-33 |
| Issue date: | 18 August 2026 |
| Application: | All Victorian public service employees |
| Enquiries: | Policy and Integrity team Victorian Public Sector Commission [email protected] |
On 5 August 2026, the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) released a special report on Operation Richmond.
Operation Richmond identified that senior members of government acted contrary to established policies, procedures, codes of conduct and conventions while negotiating an enterprise bargaining agreement.
The report includes several findings relating to the conduct of senior public servants.
IBAC found that senior public servants failed to act with integrity by being honest, open and transparent in their dealings, fell short of their obligation to maintain accurate and reliable records to allow for appropriate scrutiny, and contrary to obligations to provide frank and impartial advice.
The report notes "the circumstances call attention to the essential role public servants play as stewards of good public administration, and the real impacts that occur when public servants fail to act, or are inhibited from acting, with integrity, impartiality and courage."
I want to remind all public servants that we are bound to always act in accordance with the seven public sector values and Code of Conduct.
As public servants, we need to be strongly committed to serving our community and acting in the best interests of Victorians. By demonstrating the public sector values, we help strengthen trust in our work and services.
Operation Richmond highlights some of the ways we need to live the values in our day-to-day work:
| Public sector values | What it looks like |
| Responsiveness | Providing frank, impartial and timely advice to the Government so it can make decisions based on the best available evidence and in the public interest. This includes behaving in an apolitical manner and not withholding relevant information from the Government. |
| Integrity | Being honest and transparent, reporting improper conduct and avoiding or managing conflicts of interest. |
| Impartiality | Making decisions and acting consistently with relevant policies and providing advice that is free of prejudice, favouritism and based on sound judgement. |
| Accountability | Ensuring that our advice is always documented and can be scrutinised. |
| Respect | Being professional in the way we interact with government, stakeholders and the community. This helps others to trust that we will treat people fairly and objectively. |
| Leadership | Actively implementing, promoting and supporting the public sector values. |
Public servants also need to make decisions and provide advice consistent with human rights, and actively consider, implement and support human rights.
The Premier has accepted IBAC’s recommendations and has stated that the Government will make a formal response in due course.
As the Victorian Public Sector Commissioner, I am committed to working with senior public service leaders to support public servants to serve the Government of the day with integrity and professionalism, as described in the Code of Conduct.
This report gives the public service several insights into how guidance on the Code can be made clearer to support integrity and professionalism. The Victorian Public Sector Commission is actively considering what further guidance and support are needed to strengthen practice.
The VPSC has produced Informing and advising ministers in the Victorian Public Service (VPS), which provides guidance on how to advise ministers if you’re a VPS secretary, executive or staff member.
If you are uncertain about your responsibilities, I encourage you to seek support from within your organisation.
If you have serious integrity concerns about the behaviour of the public sector, you should consider formal processes for reporting this. For example through the Public Interest Disclosure process.
The Victorian Public Sector Commission is also here to provide advice to executives and staff in complex situations. Please email [email protected].
Guidance on demonstrating the public sector values can be found on our website.