ICAC head says funding cuts will have 'immediate and serious' effect

The New South Wales anti-corruption commission will face a $4m shortfall next year which will have immediate and serious effects to fight corruption, warned chief commissioner, Peter Hall on October 20. In an appearance before NSW parliament, the commissioner said that the $673,000 cuts for next financial year will leave the anti-corruption commission with $3.94m short of its $28.84m funding is required to maintain its operations. He further said that the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) can maintain its savings only by disengaging frontline staff. By now, the back office has already reported having cut staff. In order to tackle the situation, the commissioner has reportedly proposed a new funding model for ICAC that guarantees its independence and removes it from the whims of usual government funding of agencies which is yet to be made public.

“Such reductions would, of course, have an immediate and serious effect on the commission’s frontline services, and therefore its ability to fight corruption,” the commissioner said.

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Something needs to be done very quickly: Hall

Adding to his statement, Hall said that something needs to be done very quickly. He said that if the commission’s funding under the persuasion or influence of the executive of government, or for any other reason, is reduced or constrained, that, of course, would inflict considerable damage to the commission’s ability to function. This outcome might be a good thing for the perpetrators of corrupt conduct but a downfall for the investigators, he added. The commissioner said to the NSW parliament’s committee that the government is  misapprehended that ICAC was like any other government agency. He said that NSW anti-corruption commission can't just hang or not investigate matters for it does not have enough money in its budget.

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“To do that would, of course, allow corrupt officials and those who deal with them to proceed on with their corrupt schemes and practices, unaffected of course, to the detriment of the state of NSW," he said.

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Even opposition reiterates lack of funding

He said that an anti-corruption organization cannot work as per demand and supply rule and cite the number of services per year. It plainly does anti-corruption work, he asserted. The commissioner also said that he reprioritizes the need for additional required funding if there is a case that warrants it in the public interest. He demanded that their funding shouldn't be constrained, as government agencies are restrained. ICAC is examining an alleged scheme to cover up to $100,000 in unlawful donations to Labor, and another investigating the operation of lobbying in the state, amongst its major cases. Even the state's opposition blamed that ICAC, ombudsman, the information and privacy commissioner and the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission are being starved of resources.

(With inputs from agencies)

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