A draft bill outlining recommended changes to the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Act 2017 has been released for public consultation.
This follows an initial review of the Act, in which proposed reforms were developed following extensive consultation, including the release of a Discussion Paper.
The proposed reforms outlined in the exposure draft bill fine-tune the existing legislative framework for the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC), which has been in operation since November 2018.
The proposed reforms aim to provide an optimal balance between the ICAC’s role as an effective and robust integrity body focused on exposing corruption and improper conduct for the public good; and protecting individuals involved in the process, to provide fairness and proportionality.
The recommendations ensure ICAC focusses on the most serious matters, including increasing protection for whistle-blowers; removing ambiguities to improve processes; and measured increases to the ICAC’s powers with necessary and proportionate safeguards.
The NT Government established the ICAC to restore trust in our democracy and ensure integrity in public institutions.
Consultation is open from 15 May 2023 until 12 June 2023. To view the proposed reforms to the bill, please visit haveyoursay.nt.gov.au/exposure-draft-bill-icac-act-2017 [https://www.haveyoursay.nt.gov.au/exposure-draft-bill-icac-act-2017]
