ICAC lobbying public inquiry to focus on roles and perspectives of government officials

Thursday 13 February 2020

The next phase of the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption’s (ICAC) public inquiry into the regulation of lobbying, access and influence in NSW (Operation Eclipse) will focus on the roles and perspectives of government officials.

Phase three of the public inquiry will commence next Monday, 17 February 2020 at 10:00 am. Further details about Operation Eclipse, including an initial discussion paper and submissions in response, an interim paper, transcripts and exhibits from the first two phases of the public inquiry, are available here.

Topics to be examined in this phase include the:

•    high-risk areas for corruption in lobbying
•    current practice in NSW around the high-risk areas
•    elements of best practice in other jurisdictions that could help ameliorate the risks in NSW
•    gap between practice in NSW and best practice elsewhere to highlight where improvements for reform can be made and to strengthen transparency and accountability.


ICAC Chief Commissioner, the Hon Peter Hall QC, is presiding at the public inquiry. Counsel Assisting the Commission are Dr Nicholas Chen SC and Juliet Curtin.

The Commission is live streaming the proceedings in this public inquiry via the ICAC website. The live stream will be accessible under “News and media” on the Commission’s homepage from 10:00 am on Monday 17 February 2020.

Operation Eclipse differs from investigations usually conducted by the Commission in that it is not concerned with examining whether any particular individual may have engaged in corrupt conduct, but rather seeks to examine particular aspects of lobbying activities and the corruption risks involved in the lobbying of public authorities and officials.

Phase 3 is expected to be the final part of the public inquiry, and is set down for two days. A witness list is attached. Please note that this list is subject to change.

NSW INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION

OPERATION ECLIPSE PUBLIC INQUIRY

WITNESS LIST

Week beginning Monday 17 February 2020

Please note that this list is subject to change.

Monday 17 February
James Hebron                        Chief Legal Counsel, NSW Department of Planning, Industry & Environment
Dr David Solomon AM            Former Queensland Integrity Commissioner
Greg Woodhams                    Executive Director, City Planning, Greater Sydney Commission


Tuesday 18 February
George Rennie                       Lecturer, School of Social and Political Sciences, Faculty of Arts, University of Melbourne