Daniel Andrews (left) and Peter Marshall have defended their actions that gave rise to an investigation by the anti-corruption watchdog. (AAP: James Ross)
IBAC's overdue Operation Richmond report, published on Wednesday, stopped short of uncovering any corrupt conduct after a "handshake" deal between the Labor government and the firefighters' union in 2016.
But it did find former premier Daniel Andrews, his senior ministers and public servants had circumvented the Westminster system and codes of conduct to get a politically expedient outcome.
In a statement, Mr Andrews rejected any allegations of wrongdoing and said the dispute "needed to be resolved in the public interest, and it was".
The "handshake" deal brokered in a hotel room between the Andrews government and the firefighters' union was finally detailed for Victorians after 10 years, three raids, and searches of 50 devices.
IBAC's overdue Operation Richmond report, published on Wednesday, stopped short of uncovering any corrupt conduct.
But the investigation found former premier Daniel Andrews, his senior ministers and public servants had circumvented the Westminster system and codes of conduct to get a politically expedient outcome with the United Firefighters Union (UFU) in 2016 after a bitter and long-running pay dispute.
"Off doing my secret mission," then-special minister of state Gavin Jennings said in a text message on April 11 that year. He was busy on "secret business", he told staff in another.
The next day, he was secretly holed up in a hotel room with union secretary Peter Marshall — who had booked the room, and brought a small team of negotiators — as well as then Department of Premier and Cabinet deputy secretary Tony Bates.
Then-special minister of state Gavin Jennings spoke about handshakes and "secret business", the investigation found. (ABC News: Stephanie Anderson)
They had already spent three days in a rented meeting space.
"Handshake has occurred — it's done!" Mr Jennings texted Mr Andrews after the final meeting, which an unnamed senator joined to act as an intermediary. "Very good," the then-premier replied.
The IBAC report found United Firefighters Union boss Peter Marshall had privileged access to government figures, but stopped short of any finding of corrupt conduct.
At some point, they cracked open the bubbly. Mr Marshall had taken a photo of his UFU negotiators with full champagne glasses and sparkling wine bottles on the table beside the unnamed senator. They were toasting towards the camera, IBAC said.
The next day, Mr Andrews and Mr Marshall staged a meeting at the premier's office in 1 Treasury Place. The purpose of this, IBAC said, was to have a staffer witness the handing over of the "UFU's proposal" which would finally be delivered to the minister responsible for the emergency services portfolio, Jane Garrett.