Allegations senior public official have improperly influenced the awarding of major contracts with V/Line and Metro Trains will be examined by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission.

V/Line chief executive James Pinder was suspended in August, while IBAC carried out an investigation into his conduct.

Read more: V/Line chief suspended amid anti-corruption investigation

It comes as IBAC Commissioner Robert Redlich QC takes a swipe at the lack of funding the watchdog receives.

"It is deeply concerning that IBAC's budget has remained largely static since we were founded. This means that today IBAC cannot investigate a significant number of complaints of serious misconduct which may warrant our investigation," he said on Thursday.

Without extra funding from 2021, the commissioner warned IBAC's ability to prevent and expose corruption would be further curtailed.

While IBAC's workload had grown significantly since its establishment eight years ago, Mr Redlich said its budget hadn't been indexed and so funding was not increasing in line with costs.

Hearings into alleged corruption in public transport contracts will begin on October 26 and be live-streamed.

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