‘Tentacles everywhere’: Victorian ministerial adviser improperly influenced $1.2m union contract, Ibac finds

An Ibac report lays bare the ‘increasing influence of ministerial advisers’ and the ‘centralisation of power’ in premier Daniel Andrews’ private office. Photograph: Diego Fedele/AAP

An anti-corruption investigation has found a Victorian government adviser “improperly influenced” the awarding of a $1.2m contract to a union, with a former minister telling investigators that staff in Daniel Andrews’ office had “tentacles everywhere”.

Jenny Mikakos, the health minister from 2018 to 2020, was one of several witnesses interviewed by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission as part its investigation into the awarding of the contract to the Health Workers Union.