Government agency VicForests has referred itself to the state’s anti-corruption watchdog over spying allegations. 

Victoria's state-owned logging company VicForests is alleged to have hired a private investigator to spy on an activist.

State law requires the chief executive of a government agency such as VicForests to refer a matter to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) if they “reasonable suspicion” of corruption having occurred within the agency/ 

Victorian agriculture minister Mary-Anne Thomas, whose portfolio includes responsibility for VicForests, says: “VicForests itself is undertaking an independent review and I will be in receipt of that when it's complete”. 

Premier Daniel Andrews has defended VicForests.

“VicForests do their very best, and I won't be drawn on these claims, or the referral. That simply wouldn't be appropriate,” he said.

Last year, it was revealed that VicForests allegedly hired a private investigator to conduct surveillance on its own contractors, and to dig up dirt on an activist who had fought against logging in some areas.

VicForests has denied any widespread illegal logging, and IBAC has not revealed whether it will investigate any of the allegations.