The Victorian Government has promised action following a report into the governance and administration of the Victorian Building Commission.

 

The report, released by the Victorian Ombudsman, focused on three primary areas; a failure of governance and administration; inappropriate registration of building practitioners; and questionable recruitment processes for key staff, including investigators between 2009 and 2011.

 

“Governance issues and largesse and extravagant sponsorship had been out of control at the Building Commission until the appointment of the new Commissioner Michael Kefford,” State Planning Minister Matthew Guy said.

 

The Ombudsman has found that expenditure included nearly $950,000 in less than four years on sponsorship; over $500,000 on interstate and overseas travel and accommodation; and over $200,000 on meals and entertainment.

 

“The Ombudsman’s findings into the mismanagement of public funds are matters that the Coalition Government takes seriously and will act on straight away,” Mr Guy said.