Victoria’s corruption probes could be hindered by lengthy legal battles. 

The state’s Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC) investigates corruption across state and local government, the police and the Victorian public service.

However, IBAC commissioner Robert Redlich says the publishing of a number of IBAC reports is being held up.

“I'm disappointed that a number of our investigations haven't yet seen the light of day because of litigation. And, in the fullness of time, hopefully, that will become apparent,” he told reporters. 

“People have got their rights. They're entitled to exercise their rights. And, hopefully, as quickly as possible, the court will resolve those difficulties so that we can proceed with tabling these reports.

“Not everything that we have done has yet entered the public domain, which would have enabled us to then talk openly about the issues that are exposed by the investigations.”

The commissioner tabled IBAC’s most recent report this week, which contains dire warnings about the integrity of the state's political system.

It warns that some lobbyists have “privileged access"”and outsized influence.

“We have no regulation whatsoever. We are seriously a long way behind other states,” the commissioner said.

“It's timely that we need to have legislation that controls the way lobbying activity occurs.

“Human condition being what it is, it's thought [that]; ‘If I can get to speak to a decision-maker privately, or even in a social setting, then I've got a step in the door towards influencing decision-making’.”

Among a series of calls from the newest report, Commissioner Redlich recommends ministerial diaries be published. It also calls for expensive tickets to political fundraisers to be considered political donations.

Currently, Victorian local governments can make multi-million dollar planning decisions but do not have to declare their donations publicly at all.

The IBAC report says local governments should be brought into line with the state government donation regulations.