ICAC regional corruption prevention program to visit North Coast
Friday 27 April 2012
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) will visit the North Coast next month as part of the Commission's outreach program to bring anti-corruption initiatives and training to regional NSW.
The visit, to be based in Kingscliff and Lismore, will include workshops for state and local government agencies to increase awareness about corruption risks and learn the latest ways to minimise the occurrence of corrupt conduct.
The ICAC Commissioner, the Hon David Ipp AO QC, said the Commission's outreach workshops are tailored to reflect areas that the Commission has identified of current interest and relevance to public officials in NSW. "Public officials attending the workshops will have the opportunity to learn about public interest disclosures (to be conducted by the NSW Ombudsman's office), corruption prevention in procurement, corruption prevention for managers, and fact-finding, which helps agencies to conduct their own internal investigations.
"Corruption can manifest itself in many areas and functions, such as procurement, an area that the Commission has found is increasingly represented in our investigation work. We are keen, therefore, to help agencies and officials to learn the best ways to combat this and other forms of public sector corruption during the upcoming visit to the North Coast," Commissioner Ipp said.
The ICAC's Executive Director Corruption Prevention, Dr Robert Waldersee, will host a community leaders' breakfast at Kingscliff, which will be attended by approximately 55 people including elected representatives and senior staff from Tweed Shire Council, state government agencies, local business people and interest groups. The visit will also include Ms Helen Ford, Manager Projects and Major Investigations at the NSW Ombudsman's Office, who will address the breakfast about the role of the Ombudsman. Dr Waldersee will talk about the role and functions of the ICAC.
State Government agencies attending the outreach activities include Aboriginal Affairs NSW, NSW Department of Attorney General & Justice, WorkCover NSW, Department of Premier and Cabinet, Northern NSW Local Health District, Corrective Services NSW, Department of Education and Communities, Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority, Department of Family and Community Services and NSW Public Works. Rous Water will also participate along with Byron Shire, Kyogle, Lismore City, Tweed Shire, Richmond Valley, Clarence Valley and Ballina Shire councils.
The ICAC outreach program has proved highly successful since its inception in 2001. Previous visits have included the Central Coast, the Illawarra, the Central West, the Hunter, the Far West, the South East and New England. The Commission last visited the North Coast in 2007.
News Directors/Ed's note: Media are welcome to attend the Community Leaders' Breakfast at Peppers Salt Resort & Spa, Bells Boulevard, Kingscliff, at 7.15am on Tuesday 8 May 2012. Please RSVP to the Commission's Manager Communications & Media, Nicole Thomas, by 3 pm on Monday, 30 April at nthomas@icac.nsw.gov.au or telephone 02 8281 5799 / 0417 467 801.
Media enquiries: ICAC Manager Communications & Media, Nicole Thomas, 02 8281 5799 / 0417 467 801