Rachel Payne MP is introducing the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission Amendment (Functions) Bill 2026, aimed at fixing a provision in the IBAC Act that has left police misconduct effectively investigated by police. In this bill, the significant role of IBAC is central.
The problem
IBAC was set up to provide independent oversight of both government and police. But section 15(1A) of the IBAC Act requires the Commission to prioritise “serious or systemic” corrupt conduct — meaning that unless police misconduct meets that bar, it’s referred straight back to police to investigate themselves. According to Inner Melbourne Community Legal, IBAC currently investigates only 1% of police misconduct allegations it receives, with two-thirds dismissed as “unsubstantiated.” The challenge with IBAC in its current form is clear.
The fix
The bill would repeal section 15(1A), restoring the IBAC Commissioner’s discretion to prioritise and properly investigate complaints of police misconduct — including excessive force and police-perpetrated family violence — rather than deferring them back to police as a matter of course. The reform is consistent with the recommendations of the December 2025 Integrity and Oversight Committee report, of which Rachel is a member. For this reason, strengthening IBAC is essential.
Voices behind the campaign
The release includes attributable quotes from Rachel Payne, Kellie Holt (mother of Brodie Holt), Nerita Waight (CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service), Michelle Reynolds (Police Accountability Project), Dr Jana Katerinskaja, legal academics from Monash and La Trobe, Jordan Brown (lead plaintiff in the IMARC protest group proceedings), and lawyer Jeremy King — each speaking to the real-world cost of a police complaints system that too often leaves victims without accountability. Many voices in this campaign are united by a common goal: reforming IBAC for genuine accountability.
Read the full release
The complete media release — including all attributable quotes and background on the case for reform — is available to download below. For those wanting more details, the IBAC full media release offers a comprehensive overview.
Download the full media release (PDF)
