Subject: Re: Response on Behalf of Minister Carroll – IBAC Operation Dunham / Access to Records

Dear Child Safety and Fraud Investigations Branch,

Thank you for your response on behalf of Minister Ben Carroll, and for acknowledging my correspondence of 20 June 2025.

I appreciate your confirmation that my concerns relate to Operation Dunham and the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC). However, I must respectfully raise the following clarifications:

1. Departmental Relevance: My original correspondence referenced child safety concerns and specific documents from the Department of Education and Training, where Matthew Dunkley was Southwest Regional Director during the time in question. These records are not solely under IBAC’s control. As such, I believe there remains a reasonable expectation for the Department to assist in identifying and locating documentation created or stored under its purview—including but not limited to internal communications, policy breaches, staff actions, and interactions with Mr Dunkley or Christine Stirling during the relevant period.
2. FOI Obligations: Under both Australian and Victorian freedom of information legislation, departments have a duty to confirm the existence of records in their custody. If these materials are held by your department—even if linked to a broader IBAC investigation—this does not preclude your responsibility to acknowledge, preserve, or reference them in response to a legitimate FOI or safeguarding enquiry.
3. Referral to Integrity Oversight Victoria: I note your suggestion to approach Integrity Oversight Victoria. I will certainly consider this, particularly in light of documented failures in record production and the lack of response from IBAC and OVIC.

That said, I would be grateful if you could confirm whether the Department of Education holds or held any material, internal or otherwise, relating to:

• Matthew Dunkley’s tenure and suspension
• Complaints received about child safety within his region
• The “Ultranet” corruption scandal and related destruction of documents
• The role of Christine Stirling, where applicable

Should you require specifics (names, dates, or reference codes), I will be happy to provide them.

Please treat this as a renewed request for assistance under your obligations to child safety and document transparency.

I look forward to your reply.

Warm regards,
Martin Newbold