ICAC corruption prevention program to visit Central Coast

Monday 21 November 2011

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) will visit the Central Coast next week as part of the Commission's outreach program to bring anti-corruption initiatives and training to regional NSW.

The visit, to be based in Terrigal, will include workshops and briefing sessions for state and local government agencies to increase awareness about corruption risks and examine ways to prevent corrupt conduct from occurring.

The ICAC Commissioner, the Hon David Ipp AO QC, said the Commission's outreach program provided local agencies across the state with the opportunity to experience hands-on corruption prevention workshops with the Commission's highly-skilled staff.

"The ICAC workshops are tailored to reflect areas that the Commission has identified of current interest and relevance to public officials in NSW," Commissioner Ipp said. "Workshops on the Central Coast will include public interest disclosures training (to be conducted by the NSW Ombudsman's office), corruption prevention in procurement, corruption prevention for managers, and a fact-finder workshop which will help agencies to conduct their own internal investigations."

The ICAC's Deputy Commissioner, Ms Theresa Hamilton, will host a community leaders' breakfast, which will be attended by approximately 60 people including local members of parliament, elected representatives and senior staff from local councils, state government agencies, local business people and interest groups. The visit will also include the NSW Deputy Ombudsman, Chris Wheeler, who will address the breakfast about the role of the Ombudsman. Ms Hamilton will talk about the role and functions of the ICAC

State Government agencies attending the outreach activities include Central Coast Local Health District, Department of Attorney General and Justice, Communities NSW, NSW Police Force, Gosford Hospital, Fire & Rescue NSW, Department of Family and Community Services, WorkCover NSW, Department of Planning & Infrastructure, NSW Public Works, Department of Premier and Cabinet, Hunter TAFE, and the NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing. Gosford City and Wyong Shire Councils will also participate.

The ICAC outreach program has proved highly successful since its inception in 2001. Previous visits have included to the Illawarra, the Central West, the Hunter, the Far West, the South East, the North Coast and New England. The Commission last visited the Central Coast in 2005.

News Directors/Ed's note: Media are welcome to attend the Community Leaders' Breakfast at the Crowne Plaza, Pine Tree Lane, Terrigal at 7.15am on Tuesday 29 November 2011. Please RSVP to the Commission's Acting Manager Communications & Media, Ellie Prodromou, by 3 pm on Tuesday, 22 November at eprodromou@icac.nsw.gov.au or telephone 02 8281 5913/0417 467 801.

Media enquiries: ICAC A/Manager Communications & Media, Ellie Prodromou,
02 8281 5913 / 0417 467 801