Victoria's state-owned logging company has referred itself to the corruption watchdog after allegations it hired a private investigator to spy on an activist.
After the ABC revealed those allegations last year, VicForests announced it had commissioned an external firm to investigate them.
Then, earlier this month, VicForests quietly updated a press release from last year, noting that investigation had led to the corruption referral.
If the chief executive of a government agency such as VicForests has a "reasonable suspicion" of corruption having occurred within the agency, it is mandatory under Victorian law for them to refer the matter to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC).
When approached for comment, Victorian agriculture minister Mary-Anne Thomas, who has responsibility for VicForests, said: "VicForests itself is undertaking an independent review and I will be in receipt of that when it's complete".
Premier Daniel Andrews said he didn't want to "cut across" work being done by integrity organisations but defended VicForests.
"VicForests do their very best, and I won't be drawn on these claims, or the referral. That simply wouldn't be appropriate," he said.
Spying allegations
Last year, the ABC revealed VicForests had hired a private investigator to conduct surveillance on its own contractors about 2011.
That private investigator, Alan Davey, said he was then asked to dig up dirt on Sarah Rees, an activist who had fought against logging in some areas.
He alleged he was paid to follow her for a number of days, taking photos and video footage of her activities.
After those ABC reports, VicForests said in a statement the allegations did "not reflect the culture, the values or the people of VicForests".
It announced it had hired an external company, RSM, to investigate the matter.
VicForests said, at the time, it would not comment further but would make the investigation report public when it was complete.
On April 5, VicForests updated its statement, noting:
"Matters arising from the independent investigation have been referred by VicForests to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission.
"VicForests will be making no further comment."
VicForests has not released the report, and declined to answer the ABC's questions about its findings.
Other IBAC referrals
The self-report to the corruption watchdog follows a number of other corruption referrals to IBAC following ABC's reporting.
Last year, Victorian Greens MP Ellen Sandell referred VicForests to IBAC, requesting they investigate the spying allegations.
VicForests' regulator, the Office of the Conservation Regulator (OCR), was also referred to IBAC by community group Warburton Environment. The referral argued the regulator had failed to take action against allegedly illegal logging by VicForests.
VicForests has denied any widespread illegal logging.
IBAC has not revealed whether it will investigate any of the allegations.
Editor's note April 14, 2022: An earlier version of this story incorrectly referred to the Office of the Information Commissioner as the regulator of VicForests. It has been updated to reflect the correct regulator, the Office of the Conservation Regulator.
