Staff of Victoria's building regulator have been charged with accepting kickbacks after their homes were raided in a secret corruption probe.
Two Victorian Building Authority employees were charged with criminal offences linked to the assessment of builder registrations allegedly in exchange for a financial benefit, the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission says.
A third worker is being investigated.
The corruption watchdog earlier on Wednesday executed search warrants on several premises.
The employees were persons of interest in an investigation dubbed Operation Perseus, into allegations of corrupt conduct at the building and plumbing regulator.
"This investigation remains ongoing and IBAC will not be providing further comment at this stage," an IBAC spokesperson said.
Suspicious activity was reported to the corruption body by the building authority in June 2023, chief executive Anna Cronin said.
"The employees involved have been stood down by the VBA with immediate effect," Ms Cronin said in a statement.
"The VBA is now reviewing any impacts of this alleged activity to ensure the integrity of our systems."
The Victorian Building Authority has been mired in scandal in recent years.
Its chief executive Sue Eddy resigned in May 2023 after it was revealed some plumbing inspections were carried out virtually.
In September 2022, WorkSafe charged the regulator over the death of one of its inspectors who died by his own hand earlier that year.
It was also charged with recklessly engaging in conduct that placed another person in danger of serious injury, and failing to provide or maintain a workplace that was safe and without risks to health.
A report from Victoria's auditor-general in November found the regulator had not been transparent about meeting certain targets and had a long way to go in improving its performance.
The Victorian government appointed Ms Cronin in 2023 to reform the authority's culture and performance.
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
