ICAC annual report shows continued increased activity throughout 2011-12

Thursday 18 October 2012

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has almost doubled the percentage of preliminary investigations completed within 120 days during 2011-12 compared to the previous year, while conducting high-profile public inquiries and continuing to decrease the time taken on average to deal with matters.

In its Annual Report 2011-12, furnished to Parliament today, the Commission reported that during the year the time taken to finalise matters in the Assessments Section, which receives all initial complaints and reports, continued to reduce with the time taken on average to deal with a matter falling to 44 days, compared to 48 in 2010-11. This was achieved although the number of matters continued to increase, rising to 2,978 in 2011-12, compared to 2,867 in 2010-11.

The Commission completed 77% of preliminary investigations undertaken by the Investigation Division within the target 120 days this year, compared to 41% in the previous year.

Further highlights included an increase in the number of speaking engagements conducted by the Corruption Prevention Division. In 2011-12, 79 speaking engagements were conducted and attended by over 3,220 people, compared to 50 speaking engagements in 2010-11. Telephone and email advice requests also increased, with 133 received this year, compared to 97 in 2010-11.

The Commission also researched, identified and recommended a range of approaches to corruption control in government procurement, and recommended key anti-corruption safeguards to underpin the NSW planning system.

Other major Commission highlights and achievements from 2011-12 include:

• commencing 73 new preliminary investigations, and 19 new operations, compared to 66 and 15 respectively in 2010-11
• conducting 10 public inquiries over 70 days, resulting in corrupt conduct findings against 14 people including a government minister, the head of a NSW government authority, and a local councillor
• delivering 116 training sessions, compared to 89 in the previous year
• conducting 135 compulsory examinations over 59 days, compared to 130 compulsory examinations over 67 days in 2010-11
• reporting a total of 98% of corruption prevention recommendations in investigation reports as either fully or partially implemented as at 30 June 2012
• conducting two regional and rural outreach visits to the Central Coast and North Coast, at which 318 people participated in training, workshops and other events
• co-hosting the fourth Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference with the Queensland Crime and Misconduct Commission and the Western Australian Corruption and Crime Commission, which was attended by more than 550 people
• recommending that the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions be sought with respect to the prosecution of nine people.

        Annual Report 2011-12

Media contact: ICAC's Manager Communications & Media, Nicole Thomas, (02) 8281 5799/(0417) 467 801