A Victorian health department staffer is under police investigation over a leak of the state's COVID-19 roadmap that the premier initially dismissed as "out of date".
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Victoria Police confirmed on Thursday a referral had been made by a government department over "unauthorised access of information".
"This matter is being investigated by the E-Crime Squad and as this investigation is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time" it said in a statement.
The Department of Health and Human Services said it was aware of an employee allegedly breaching the public service code of conduct.
The worker had been tasked with broad administrative assistance.
The Herald Sun published a comprehensive overview of easing restrictions on September 3, three days before the much-hyped roadmap was unveiled.
Premier Daniel Andrews dismissed the leaked document as "out of date", while Victorian Deputy Chief Health Officer Allen Cheng said it was "a working draft from some time ago".
Most of the details were correct including a two-week extension of Melbourne's nightly curfew.
The Victorian opposition took aim at the state government on Thursday, labelling the probe a "witch-hunt".
"The increasingly desperate, dysfunctional and secretive Andrews Labor government will do anything it can to stop Victorians from knowing the truth," shadow attorney-general Edward O'Donohue said.
"Rather than a witch-hunt, Daniel Andrews should be focused on saving the small businesses he's smashed and the families he has destroyed because of his hotel quarantine COVID-19 second wave."
Mr Andrews said he wasn't consulted on the decision to refer the worker to police.
"A person might be a public servant but they don't work for me, they're not employed (or) hired by me, they're not disciplined by me," he told reporters at Thursday's media briefing.
"I certainly wouldn't have been asked what I think about (it). That's not a matter for me."
He noted that cabinet-in-confidence documents were "very important" and "appropriately protected".
Under the Public Administration Act 2004, a public servant can commit misconduct by improperly using their position to benefit themselves or someone else and if they detrimentally impact the public service or public sector.
Australian Associated Press
