Regional corruption prevention program to visit Illawarra

Wednesday 28 October 2009

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

The visit, to be based in Kiama, will include workshops and briefing sessions for state and local government agencies on corruption risks and prevention techniques. The Commission will also host a community leaders' breakfast on Tuesday, 3 November.

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 corruption prevention for managers (state and local government sessions), better management of disclosures and presentations to local high schools.

"The visit will also include NSW Assistant Ombudsman, Greg Andrews, and NSW Police Integrity Commissioner John Pritchard who, along with the ICAC, will address the community breakfast and speak about the functions of their respective agencies. Mr Andrews will also join with the Commission to co-present the Better Management of Protected Disclosures workshop," Commissioner Cripps said.

State Government agencies attending the outreach activities include the NSW Fire Brigades, the Department of Education and Training, the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, Industry and Investment NSW, the Roads and Traffic Authority and the NSW Police Force. Local councils participating will include Kiama, Shoalhaven City, Wingecarribee Shire, Shellharbour City and Wollongong City.

The community leaders' breakfast will be attended by approximately 50 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, the North Coast and the South Coast.