ICAC corruption prevention program is visiting the Greater Western Sydney area

Tuesday 11 November 2008

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) will visit Greater Western Sydney this month for the first time as part of its anti-corruption outreach program.

The visit, to be based at Rooty Hill, will include workshops and briefing sessions for state government agencies and local councils on corruption risks and prevention strategies.

The ICAC Commissioner, the Hon Jerrold Cripps QC, said the outreach program gives agencies the opportunity to experience hands-on corruption prevention workshops with the ICAC's highly-skilled staff.

"The ICAC has undertaken several visits to areas across NSW, and is looking forward to sharing the corruption prevention skills and tools it has developed with agencies based in Greater Western Sydney," Commissioner Cripps said.

"Our activities will include workshops on protected disclosures, training for state and local government managers on corruption prevention and a session on conducting fair and effective internal investigations.

"We will also meet with senior public officials and talk about policies and approaches that reduce opportunities for public sector corruption.

"The visit will also include the NSW Deputy Ombudsman Chris Wheeler, who will speak about protected disclosures, and Police Integrity Commissioner John Pritchard will speak about the role and functions of the Police Integrity Commission. Their presence will certainly enrich the experience for participants," Commissioner Cripps said.

State Government agencies attending the outreach activities include the Department of Premier and Cabinet, the NSW Police Force, TAFE NSW, the Department of Corrective Services, Ambulance Service of NSW, Sydney West Area Health Service, Housing NSW and the Department of Environment and Climate Change.

Participating councils will include Blacktown, Auburn, Liverpool, Baulkham Hills, Campelltown, Camden, Wollondilly, Fairfield and Blue Mountains.

Commissioner Cripps will host a community leaders' breakfast on 18 November, which will be attended by approximately 40 people. Attendees will include representatives from state government agencies and local councils, local business people and interest groups. Commissioner Pritchard and Mr Wheeler will also speak at the breakfast.

The ICAC outreach program has proved highly successful since its inception in 2001. It has included visits to the Illawarra, New England, the Hunter, Mudgee, the Far West, the South East, the Riverina, the Central Coast, the Central West and the North Coast.