An attempt to change the rules for Victoria's anti-corruption agency on when it should hold public hearings will be a test for the state's new-look crossbench, the opposition says.
The re-elected Andrews Labor government introduced legislation into parliament which would restrict public hearings by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission to only the most serious investigations.
The government says it is to better protect the rights and welfare of individuals.
However Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien accused the government of trying to gag IBAC and said his team would put up amendments for the legislation when it comes before the upper house this week.
"This will be not just a test of Labor, this will also be a test for the crossbenchers - are they going to vote to reduce transparency, to reduce accountability or is the crossbench in the upper house going vote to try and keep the independent anti-corruption watchdog with full powers," Mr O'Brien told reporters on Monday.
After November's state election, Labor has 18 members in the upper house to the Liberal-Nationals' 11 and the government will need some of the 11 crossbenchers on side for the legislation to pass.
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