Corruption Matters - November 2018 - Issue 52

From the Chief Commissioner

Since the three-Commissioner model came into effect in August 2017, all staff have worked hard at making this next phase of the ICAC a success, and are commended for doing so. I take this opportunity to express gratitude also to Commissioner Patricia McDonald SC, Commissioner Stephen Rushton SC and Philip Reed, our recently appointed chief executive officer, for helping to administer the ICAC’s new endeavours over the past 15 months.

Chief Commissioner the Hon Peter Hall QC speaks at the 12th NIS

Some of the highlights of the past year include the:

It is with great pleasure that I introduce readers of Corruption Matters to Philip Reed, the inaugural CEO of the ICAC. Philip was appointed in July 2018 and has quickly become an integral part of the ICAC’s internal operations. He has an extensive background in both NSW and interstate executive roles within the public sector, and has had a long and distinguished career working in senior executive roles in the Queensland, Victorian and NSW public services.

I would like to acknowledge the great support I have received from Commissioners McDonald and Rushton from the outset, who have shared with me the decision-making that has underpinned the Commission’s direction and operations to date and their work on the conduct of those operations.

Of course, all of the changes over the past 15 months could not have been successful without the dedication and enthusiasm of ICAC staff in every area of operations.
This work was evidenced recently at the 12th National Investigations Symposium and the 6th Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference (APSACC); two major events co-hosted by the ICAC at which well over 1,000 experts in their respective fields came together to share their experiences and learn from one another. APSACC will next take place in Melbourne from 30 October 2019 and will be hosted by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission.

Our work in regional and rural areas of NSW continues to go from strength to strength, as do our training programs across the state. It was a pleasure to meet and speak with community leaders in Wollongong recently and Orange earlier this year.   

I am also pleased to note the favourable observations on the ICAC’s performance and approach in the annual report of the Inspector of the ICAC and also in that of the ICAC’s Joint Parliamentary Committee. It is of primary importance that we maintain the standards expected by both oversight agencies and by the public generally. A comprehensive look at our results for the 2017–18 period are available in our annual report.

In March 2019, the ICAC will have been in existence and operating for 30 years. Over the period to date, it has been exercising its functions, regarded the public interest and the prevention of breaches of public trust as its paramount concern in accordance with s 12 of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988.

The workload of the Commission is increasing. There are new challenges ahead. The ICAC team looks forward to meeting those challenges and reporting on them in forthcoming issues of this newsletter.

The Hon Peter Hall QC
Chief Commissioner

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