News from the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption

Champion of an international anti-corruption court to speak at APSACC

Judge Mark Wolf is a distinguished member of the judiciary in Massachusetts. He has heard cases of corruption in the US for well over 30 years, and is known for some much-publicised and controversial decisions. Since 2014, the year in which he first proposed the concept of an international anti-corruption court, he has actively campaigned for the creation of a court as a way to combat grand corruption (the abuse of public office for private profit by a nation's leaders). Judge Wolf will visit Australia for the first time in November to speak at the Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference (APSACC) in Sydney.
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Choosing a contracting model: more rigour now for less risk later

In February this year, the ICAC released a report aimed at those who oversee facilities maintenance contracts and are accountable for related decisions. It highlighted how the overall effectiveness and suitability of a contracting model, including its resistance to corruption, depends on a number of factors that need to be addressed at the outset.
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Is a prequalified supplier really prequalified?

A number of NSW Government supplier prequalification schemes exist. While their use can improve procurement outcomes, a failure to understand the risks associated with them can create corruption opportunities. Two key areas of risk relate to the prequalification process and the extent to which terms of engagement are specified in scheme conditions.
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The potential cost of weak program design

A poorly designed program of capital works can make it much harder to control functions such as procurement and project management. A recently released ICAC investigation report provides a good example of how these opportunities can be corruptly exploited.
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Delegations of authority: know the pitfalls

Every organisation operates under a framework in which authority to make decisions is delegated to certain members of staff. The right framework can mean good performance and good governance; the wrong one can mean unfettered control and substantial financial damage. But there are ways to address these risks.
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Responding to allegations of reprisal

Following a report of wrongdoing, sometimes the reporter may perceive that certain action being taken against them is reprisal. Any concerns expressed by reporters about fear of reprisals should be seriously and promptly addressed. However, in many cases, it may not be appropriate to formally investigate allegations of reprisal.
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In other news

One of the goals of the ICAC is to educate public sector agencies, public officials and members of the public about corruption and how to report it. Training workshops, rural outreach visits and other engagements are undertaken by ICAC staff throughout the year to achieve this goal.
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