Council is committed to the detection and investigation of fraud, corruption and protected disclosures.
Our Fraud and Corruption Control Policy, is our key reference document for managing allegations of fraud and other corrupt or inappropriate conduct. Another key reference document is the Protected Disclosure Policy, which deals with disclosures of improper conduct (as defined in Policy) and may attract statutory protections including strict confidentiality obligations to protect the identity of the discloser.
Under both Policies guidance is provided for the conduct of all Councillors, Council, staff and agents of Council with a view to avoiding fraud, corruption and improper conduct. These are supported by procedures to ensure appropriate controls are identified and maintained and for investigating reports and disclosures.
Council is required to notify the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission of any allegations of fraud or corrupt conduct which are received by Council, and any disclosure that we assess to be a protected disclosure.
You can make a report about suspected fraud or corrupt conduct of a Councillor, the Council, its CEO, a staff member or an agent of Council as follows:
About a Councillor:
Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) GPO Box 24234 MELBOURNE Vic 3001
Telephone: 1300 735 135 (toll free)
OR
Victorian Ombudsman
Level 2, 570 Bourke Street
MELBOURNE VIC 3000
Telephone 9613 6222 or 1800 806 314 (Regional only)
About the CEO
The Mayor, or Director Corporate Services
Rural City of Wangaratta
PO Box 238
WANGARATTA VIC 3676
About Council (the organisation), a staff member or an agent of Council
CEO
Reports can also be made directly to IBAC. All reports should be marked “Private and Confidential”.
You can seek the protections offered under the Protected Disclosure Act 2012. The protections include confidentiality of the identity of the discloser and protection from reprisals and immunity from defamation where the disclosure is based on a reasonably held belief. You can make a protected disclosure as follows:
Disclosures about the conduct of Council, staff, or agents of Council can be made to the:
Manager People and Governance
Telephone: 5722 0888
IBAC
GPO Box 24234 MELBOURNE VIC 3001
Disclosures about the conduct of Councillors can be made to the:
Local Government Inspectorate GPO Box 2392 MELBOURNE VIC 3001 Telephone 1800 469 359
All written communications “Protected Disclosure – Strictly Confidential”