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NSW Icac's ability to hold public hearings to be scrutinised NSW Icac's ability to hold public hearings to be scrutinised NSW Icac's ability to hold public hearings to be scrutinised
(3 months later)
The New South Wales corruption watchdog’s ability to hold public hearings is set to be scrutinised, just a week after it handed down the findings of its explosive investigation into banned political donations.The New South Wales corruption watchdog’s ability to hold public hearings is set to be scrutinised, just a week after it handed down the findings of its explosive investigation into banned political donations.
The state parliamentary committee charged with overseeing the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) will hold a two-day hearing examining the organisation’s powers following a controversial report from its inspector, David Levine, earlier this year.The state parliamentary committee charged with overseeing the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) will hold a two-day hearing examining the organisation’s powers following a controversial report from its inspector, David Levine, earlier this year.
The former supreme court judge called for an end to Icac’s public proceedings in his May report, arguing it would stop “the undeserved trashing” of people’s reputations.The former supreme court judge called for an end to Icac’s public proceedings in his May report, arguing it would stop “the undeserved trashing” of people’s reputations.
The NSW premier, Mike Baird, commissioned the report after the damning high court ruling that found Icac did not have the power to pursue its ill-fated investigation into crown prosecutor Margaret Cunneen.The NSW premier, Mike Baird, commissioned the report after the damning high court ruling that found Icac did not have the power to pursue its ill-fated investigation into crown prosecutor Margaret Cunneen.
Levine also called for the exoneration of people’s reputations if Icac’s corruption findings are later not upheld by courts.Levine also called for the exoneration of people’s reputations if Icac’s corruption findings are later not upheld by courts.
But Icac later criticised the inspector for not consulting with the commission on “any of the important issues canvassed in the report”.But Icac later criticised the inspector for not consulting with the commission on “any of the important issues canvassed in the report”.
Since being tasked with the review, Levine has been involved in a bitter public feud with Icac commissioner Megan Latham.Since being tasked with the review, Levine has been involved in a bitter public feud with Icac commissioner Megan Latham.
In a scathing report last year, he described Icac’s investigation into Cunneen as the “low point” in the organisation’s history and accused Latham of overseeing an operation that at times constituted “unjust, oppressive maladministration”.In a scathing report last year, he described Icac’s investigation into Cunneen as the “low point” in the organisation’s history and accused Latham of overseeing an operation that at times constituted “unjust, oppressive maladministration”.
Latham meanwhile accused Levine of bias and a lack of professional respect in a series of parliamentary hearings into that report.Latham meanwhile accused Levine of bias and a lack of professional respect in a series of parliamentary hearings into that report.
It is expected proceedings will be equally fiery when Levine fronts Icac parliamentary committee’s two-day hearing into his most recent report on Thursday.It is expected proceedings will be equally fiery when Levine fronts Icac parliamentary committee’s two-day hearing into his most recent report on Thursday.
It comes just over a week after Icac handed down the findings of its long-awaited Operation Spicer investigation, which led to 10 state Liberal MPs joining the crossbench or quitting politics after it began in 2014.It comes just over a week after Icac handed down the findings of its long-awaited Operation Spicer investigation, which led to 10 state Liberal MPs joining the crossbench or quitting politics after it began in 2014.