ICAC regional corruption prevention program to visit South Coast

Monday 11 May 2009

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) will visit the South Coast next week as part of a program that takes anti-corruption initiatives and training to regions across the State.

The visit will include workshops and briefing sessions for state and local government agencies on corruption risks and prevention strategies. The Commission is also planning to release the results of its most recent research project at a community leaders' breakfast in Merimbula on Tuesday, 19 May.

The ICAC Commissioner, the Hon Jerrold Cripps QC, said the outreach visit to regional and rural areas in NSW gives local agencies the opportunity to experience hands-on corruption prevention workshops with the Commission's highly-skilled staff.

"The ICAC activities will include workshops on protected disclosures, the lessons learned from the Commission's investigation into Wollongong City Council last year, school workshops and liaison visits to some and local councils in the area.

"This is the Commission's first visit this far south, and we are looking forward to sharing the resources, skills and information that have been developed since we started operating 20 years ago back in 1989.

"The visit will also include the NSW Deputy Ombudsman, Chris Wheeler, and NSW Police Integrity Commissioner John Pritchard who will address the community breakfast and speak about the functions of their respective agencies," Commissioner Cripps said.

State Government agencies attending the outreach activities include the Department of Education and Training, the State Emergency Service, Eden Local Aboriginal Land Council, the Department of Environment and Climate Change, Community Offender Services from the Department of Corrective Services, Housing NSW, the Department of Premier and Cabinet and the Department of Primary Industries.

Local shire councils participating will include Bega Valley, Cooma-Monaro and Eurobodalla. Palerang Council will also participate.

The ICAC's Deputy Commissioner, Ms Theresa Hamilton, will host the community leaders' breakfast. The breakfast will be attended by approximately 60 people including representatives from local councils, state government agencies, local business people and interest groups.

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