Firefighters union and secretary trying to block IBAC's Operation Richmond report
United Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall. (ABC News: Stephanie Anderson)
In short:
The firefighters union and its secretary have been revealed as being behind a legal attempt to stop a report Victoria's anti-corruption watchdog from being released.
A court has ordered the identities of parties trying to block the release of the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission's report be identified.
The IBAC report investigated allegations of corruption during an industrial dispute between the union, the Country Fire Authority and the government of former premier Dan Andrews.
The United Firefighters Union and its secretary Peter Marshall are behind a legal attempt to stop a report by Victoria's anti-corruption watchdog from being published.
The state's highest court today ordered that the identities of parties trying to block the release of the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission's (IBAC) Operation Richmond report be identified.
Last month, two mystery parties made a last-ditch court bid to stop the report from being tabled to Victorian parliament and made public.
On Friday, Victoria's Court of Appeal upheld a decision by Supreme Court judge Claire Harris to deny the parties a pseudonym order.
"Her honour's conclusion was correct," Justice Richard Niall said.
The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission's investigation began in 2018. (ABC News: Dylan Anderson )
In a statement, Mr Marshall said he respected the court's decision.
"Pseudonyms have often been given in the past to persons challenging the legality of IBAC's conduct. However, the Supreme Court held that a differentiating factor in the present case is that 'there is a significant amount of information in the public domain about Operation Richmond'," Mr Marshall said.
"The Court of Appeal agreed."
Mr Marshall said he and the union were prohibited from talking further about the case.
"Examinations were in private, confidentiality notices were issued. The law still prohibits us from commenting on what is in the report and what it may say about us or anyone else," he said.
"Yet, while we have not been able to talk about these things, there has been a consistent and sustained flow of information to the media.
"We will make a further statement, when we can. In the meantime, we will be making no further comment."
Operation Richmond probed Andrews-era negotiations
The IBAC investigation examined allegations of corruption during the bitter industrial dispute between firefighters union, the Country Fire Authority, and the government of former premier Daniel Andrews.
The legal battle was being fought on two fronts: one to stop the report reaching parliament altogether, the other to protect the identities of those mounting the challenge.
The bigger fight over the future of the Operation Richmond report will begin to play out in secret Supreme Court hearings, starting later this month.
IBAC's investigation began in 2018 and looked into the matter as far back as Mr Andrews's first term in office.
Then-premier Daniel Andrews intervened to end a dispute between the firefighters unnion and Country Fire Authority in 2016. (Supplied)
In 2014, the militant United Firefighters Union ran a concerted campaign against the then-Coalition government over pay and conditions.
Mr Andrews promised to respect firefighters, increase their numbers and overhaul the way firefighting operated in Victoria.
But upon coming to office after the 2014 election, Mr Andrews gave the job of emergency services minister to Jane Garrett, who resisted the union's demands.
The issue came to a head in 2016, with Mr Andrews intervening to end the impasse.
The move forced Ms Garrett, who died from cancer in 2022, to resign, and fuelled allegations the union had been given a sweetheart deal.
IBAC's probe is understood to have included interviews with Mr Andrews and senior ministers, however witnesses are unable to confirm or deny if they have been spoken to under IBAC's laws.