How a bitter firefighters' pay dispute turned toxic in Victoria

IBAC's overdue Operation Richmond report, released on Wednesday, found that former Premier Daniel Andrews and his senior ministers and public servants had violated the Westminster system and codes of conduct to secure a politically advantageous outcome in a 2016 pay dispute with the United Firefighters Union. The investigation did not uncover any corrupt conduct, but it detailed how Andrews, his team, and public servants circumvented the system to reach a deal in a hotel room in 2016.

The report noted that the dispute lasted for 10 years, with three raids and searches of 50 devices before it was finally resolved.

The investigation found that then-then-special minister of state Gavin Jennings had a secret meeting with union secretary Peter Marshall in a hotel room, along with then-Department of Premier and Cabinet deputy secretary Tony Bates. They had been negotiating for three days in a rented meeting space, and the handshake deal was finalized after the meeting. They toasted with champagne, and then-premier Andrews later texted Marshall to express his satisfaction with the "handshake."

The final meeting was held at Andrews' office, with a staffer present to witness the delivery of the union's proposal to then-minister for emergency services, Jane Garrett. However, Garrett and the staffer were unaware that the proposal had been negotiated in a hotel room. The report revealed that Andrews wanted Treasurer Tim Pallas to give Garrett a blunt assessment about her career path, ultimately leading to her resignation from cabinet.

IBAC also found that Garrett had refused to endorse the agreed-upon deal due to its potential impact on the CFA and the public, and she died four years later. The CFA board was later sacked and replaced with members more amenable to the government's wishes. The report highlighted the ways in which ministers and public servants can be influenced by improper means, with phone calls and text messages between key figures indicating a toxic and compromised negotiation process.