IBAC’s report on Ultranet

Shadow Minister for Education, Nick Wakeling

Background:

The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission has today revealed the extent of corruption by senior figures in the Victorian education department as part of its investigation into the failed Ultranet school ICT platform.
Ultranet was introduced by the former Labor education minister Bronwyn Pike, who spent over $1 million on a party for departmental staff on the day of the platform’s launch.
The report estimates the Ultranet will have costed taxpayers up to $240 million.
The former Victorian Coalition Government scrapped the Ultranet given its high cost and low uptake by schools.
The report also found ‘evidence of process corruption, improper diversion of funds, conflict of interest and mismanagement’ by very senior departmental identities directly answerable to the minister and government, in which Daniel Andrews and James Merlino were cabinet ministers.

Quotes attributable to Shadow Minister for Education Nick Wakeling:
Daniel Andrews sat around the cabinet table that supported the Ultranet, which has now cost Victorians nearly a quarter of a billion dollars.

The Premier must today reassure parents that education funding is being directed to lift Victoria’s education standards in areas like literacy and numeracy.
Media contact:      Michael Lewis         0433 495 454       michael.lewis@opposition.vic.gov.au