But Mr Andrews insists there are no systemic issues – even after the Auditor-General and Freedom-of-Information Commissioner separately stood down last month under controversial circumstances, leaving fresh gaps at the highest levels of the system.

Almost a year after coming to office promising to strengthen anti-corruption laws, the government is under renewed pressure to deliver on its pledge amid ongoing concerns that Victoria continues to lag behind NSW and Queensland.

In a recent letter to Special to Minister of State Gavin Jennings, integrity lobby group the Accountability Round Table warned that the system was seriously inadequate, particularly when it came to codes of conduct in the public sector, whistleblower protection, freedom-of-information laws and the rules and regulations governing political donations.

"In addition, the two key government integrity bodies, the Office of the Auditor-General and IBAC, are seriously limited in performing their roles," wrote former Supreme Court judge Tim Smith, QC, who chairs the group.

"The reality has to be faced that, looking at all relevant aspects, we have a serious government corruption problem in Victoria … and we cannot hope to address it with the government integrity system that we have. To do so we need the very best government integrity system."

The Accountability Round Table is a loosely formed, non-partisan coalition of academics, lawyers, politicians, journalists and authors. Its members include former Court of Appeal judge Stephen Charles, former Labor federal minister Barry Jones and former Queensland integrity commissioner David Solomon.

Recent blows to the integrity system include Auditor-General John Doyle resigning in the middle of an investigation into allegations made against him by a female member of staff.

His resignation came shortly after another key watchdog, FOI Commissioner Lynne Bertolini, also quit following a damning review into her office which  found questionable expenditure, underperformance and tensions with staff.

Asked if the state's integrity system was facing a crisis of confidence, Mr Andrews told Fairfax Media: "No, I don't think so.

"There are special and unique circumstances in all of those cases, and obviously I'm not at liberty to talk about them in any detail. But we take very seriously making sure we've got the best people to perform in these roles," he said.

"I hope people saw this as a set of unique circumstances that related to individuals, rather than any systemic issues."

Despite the premier's assurances, the resignations have left two of Victoria's key integrity bodies without a head watchdog, intensifying pressure on the government to deliver on its election commitments to strengthen the system.

In terms of the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission, the government has promised to give the agency new authority to investigate misconduct in public office.

In terms of the Auditor-General's Office, the government has promised to provide long-awaited powers to "follow the dollar" on public projects delivered in partnership with the private sector.

The government has also vowed to replace the FOI Commissioner with a new Office of the Public Access Counsellor, which it says will have more power - including the authority to review decisions to withhold documents based on cabinet-in-confidence exemptions (one of the main excuses used by departments in refusing access to information).

Legislation for all three integrity watchdogs will be introduced later this year, the government says.