Ex-Victorian minister ignored warning

Former Victorian education minister Bronwyn Pike didn't act on allegations of corruption linked to the tender process of a failed multi-million dollar IT project because it wasn't her job.

Ms Pike says she was first made aware of probity concerns about her friend, former education department deputy secretary Darrell Fraser, and the first tender process for the Ultranet IT project, in 2008.

Ms Pike told an Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission hearing in Melbourne on Wednesday she was told the email that aired the concerns was from a disgruntled bidder.

So she forwarded it to the education department, as was normal process.

"I didn't know who all the tenderers were because as a minister it's not my job to know those things," Ms Pike said.

"The minister is very hands off and has the responsibility of setting policy."

She told the hearing she was unsure what action came out of that complaint after she forwarded the email, but she expected the department would have acted if it was considered appropriate to do so.

Probity concerns were again brought to her attention by department auditor Ann Dalton, who believed Mr Fraser was too close to the project.

As a result of that discussion Ms Pike and then-education department secretary Richard Dawkins agreed to strengthen the board rather than ask Mr Fraser to stand down.

Ms Pike's friendship with Mr Fraser, which continued well after her time as education minister ended, was highlighted during the hearing numerous times.

Carrying prepared notes, Ms Pike denied knowledge of Mr Fraser's alleged improper dealings and said she had been surprised when reading transcripts of the hearings over the past month.

"I was extremely disappointed to read those things ... This is a project I believed in and thought would enhance education in Victoria," she said.

Mr Fraser, as well as a number of his education department colleagues, is accused of using the botched Ultranet project to benefit himself.

Former acting department secretary Jeff Rosewarne is expected to be questioned on Thursday.

Legal representatives for Mr Fraser are expected to make an application on Thursday that would excuse their client from being questioned publicly.