Senior members of the former Theguardian government engaged in serious and concerning conduct during pay negotiations with the firefighters union, a long-awaited anti-corruption report has found. Tabled in parliament on Wednesday, the findings stem from Operation Richmond, an investigation by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) that began in 2018.
Watchdog Exposes Secret Deals in Landmark Report
The inquiry investigated the dealings between the Andrews government and United Firefighters Union (UFU) secretary Peter Marshall regarding enterprise bargaining agreements for the Country Fire Authority (CFA) and the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB), alongside their eventual amalgamation into Fire Services Victoria. While the watchdog did not find that any individuals engaged in criminal corrupt conduct, it concluded that officials acted contrary to policy, procedure, and codes of conduct through deliberate attempts to conceal information, mislead stakeholders, and misuse official data.
Backroom Negotiations and Privileged Access
According to the The Age findings, the government struck an undisclosed deal with Marshall to the exclusion of other key stakeholders. This arrangement allowed the union leader to exert extraordinary influence over the negotiations. Investigators revealed that private meetings took place in rented spaces and a hotel, with participants instructed to keep the discussions confidential.
Former Special Minister of State Gavin Jennings texted Andrews to confirm a handshake had occurred after four days of negotiations. The terms were subsequently presented to cabinet as a proposal originating directly from the union, keeping oblivious ministers—including then-emergency services minister Jane Garrett—in the dark about the internal origins of the agreement. A senior public servant, Tony Bates, reportedly led the development of the deal, later describing a ceremonial meeting with the premier as a staged event.
Political Fallout and Resignations
The CFA pay deal became a major political flashpoint during Daniel Andrews’ tenure as premier. Jane Garrett ultimately resigned as emergency services minister and quit cabinet because she disagreed with her government’s moves to accept the UFU demands.
IBAC also discovered that Marshall was afforded privileged access to senior ministers. The agency reported that the union leader used this access to attempt to influence the selection of the commissioner for Fire Rescue Victoria, which was created in 2019. IBAC Commissioner Victoria Elliott stated that while the investigation did not uncover criminal corruption, the conduct politicized public appointment processes, undermined accountability frameworks, and significantly heightened the risk of improper influence.
Years of Legal Secrecy and Union Response
Publication of the report was delayed for years due to legal battles, including a High Court challenge by the UFU attempting to keep the findings secret. The inquiry itself was initially launched following a tip-off alleging that Marshall had blackmailed or otherwise compromised Andrews to alter his position on the CFA enterprise bargaining agreement. IBAC found no evidence of blackmail, and both Andrews and Marshall denied the allegation.
Following the release of the report, Marshall condemned the findings as a politically motivated attack and a waste of money in a video message. Meanwhile, thenightly.com.au noted that Daniel Andrews retired from politics in 2023 prior to the public release of the document.
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