More corruption links for Vic ex-minister

Former Victorian education minister Bronwyn Pike agreed to surreptitious drinks with two former department officials at the centre of a corruption scandal, it has been revealed.

In a recording played at an anti-corruption hearing on Wednesday, Ms Pike told former education department deputy secretary Darrell Fraser she was concerned for acting secretary Jeff Rosewarne, after a newspaper article raised corruption concerns in relation to the failed Ultranet IT project.

"These things are horrible but we are friends," she told Mr Fraser in the secretly-recorded 2014 conversation.

"You need your friends."

Mr Fraser then said he could organise drinks "under the radar" for the three of them - to which Ms Pike agreed.

The former minister previously told the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption (IBAC) investigation she had been made aware of probity concerns relating to department staff - including Mr Fraser - and the Ultranet project but had passed them on to the department, as per normal practice.

Ms Pike's friendship with Mr Fraser and Mr Rosewarne, which continued well after her time as education minister, was highlighted during the hearings on numerous occasions.

Opposition legal affairs spokesman John Pesutto on Wednesday said the IBAC revelations were "deeply disturbing".

"It raises serious questions about what was going on inside the Brumby cabinet, which included (now Premier) Daniel Andrews and (now Treasurer) Tim Pallas, to make sure due diligence was being done when key decisions around Ultranet were made," Mr Pesutto said in a statement.

The Ultranet scheme, initiated under the Brumby Labor government, was scrapped by the Napthine coalition government in 2013 when costs blew out from $60 million to more than $180 million.

Ms Pike was education minister between 2007 and 2010 and spearheaded that government's plan to modernise the education system - including major technological upgrades at schools across the state.