Staff at Victoria's building regulator have been charged in a corruption probe.

Two employees of the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) have been charged with criminal offences related to allegations of accepting kickbacks, following a secret investigation by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC). 

The charges are linked to the improper assessment of builder registrations, allegedly in exchange for financial rewards. 

A third employee is under investigation as part of the same inquiry.

The probe, known as Operation Perseus, culminated in raids on the homes of the implicated employees, which were conducted by IBAC last week. 

The investigation remains active, and IBAC has stated that no further comments will be provided at this stage. 

The investigation was initiated after the VBA reported suspicious activities to IBAC in June 2023. 

In response to the charges, VBA Chief Executive Anna Cronin announced that the involved employees have been immediately stood down. 

“The VBA is now reviewing any impacts of this alleged activity to ensure the integrity of our systems,” Ms Cronin said in a statement.

The Victorian Building Authority has been under scrutiny in recent years due to various controversies. 

In May 2023, its former chief executive, Sue Eddy, resigned following revelations that some plumbing inspections were conducted virtually. 

Additionally, in September 2022, WorkSafe charged the VBA over the death of an inspector and other serious safety breaches, including recklessly engaging in conduct that endangered another person. 

A November report by Victoria's auditor-general also criticised the VBA for a lack of transparency and highlighted the need for significant improvements in its performance.

The Victorian government appointed Anna Cronin in 2023 with a mandate to reform the culture and performance of the VBA following these controversies.