NSW Attorney General Mark Speakman has announced the appointment of Gail Furness SC as the Inspector of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and Bruce McClintock SC as the Inspector of the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC).
Mr Speakman said the merit-based appointments will bring significant legal experience and knowledge to the roles.
“Ms Furness is a highly respected Senior Counsel with more than 30 years of legal experience, including extensive experience in a wide range of high profile inquests, inquiries and investigations,” he said.
“She has previously held significant appointments including as Deputy Commissioner with the Health Care Complaints Commission and Senior Counsel assisting the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
“Ms Furness will bring her wealth of legal knowledge and experience to the role of Inspector of the ICAC.
“Mr McClintock is also a highly respected Senior Counsel with extensive legal experience.
“Mr McClintock will bring his vast oversight experience, including past appointments as Assistant Inspector of the LECC, Inspector of the ICAC and Inspector of the Northern Territory Independent
Commissioner Against Corruption, to bear in dealing with issues related to oversight of the LECC.”
Both Ms Furness and Mr McClintock will commence five-year terms on 1 July 2022.
Mr Speakman thanked Professor Terry Buddin SC, the outgoing Inspector of the LECC, for his outstanding commitment for the duration of his term and Mr McClintock, the outgoing Inspector of the ICAC, for his continued efforts as he transitions across into his new position with the LECC.
“Both have demonstrated their significant abilities and made a highly valued contribution to the state of NSW,” Mr Speakman said.
The Inspector of the ICAC is an independent statutory role responsible for oversight of the ICAC, an independent body established to combat corruption and improve the integrity of the NSW public sector. The ICAC’s principal objectives are to investigate, expose and seek to prevent corrupt conduct in the NSW public sector, and to educate public authorities, public officials and members of the public about corruption and its detrimental effects.
The Inspector of the LECC is an independent statutory role responsible for oversight of the LECC, an independent body with a mandate to ensure confidence in civilian oversight of law enforcement in NSW. The LECC detects, investigates and exposes serious misconduct within the NSW Police Force and the NSW Crime Commission, and independently monitors and reviews those agencies’ investigation of complaints about the conduct of their officers.
Gail Furness SC
Gail Furness is an experienced Senior Counsel who has been practising law in Australia for over 30 years. Her principal practice has been in public law, including in the areas of special commissions of inquiry, inquests, royal commissions and other investigations and inquiries. She was appointed Senior Counsel in 2010.
Ms Furness was appointed Senior Counsel assisting the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and Senior Counsel assisting a Judicial Inquiry into the convictions of Kathleen Folbigg. She has also appeared before a number of high profile inquiries including the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability, the Special Commission of Inquiry into the Ruby Princess and the Special Commission of Inquiry into the Drug ‘Ice’.
Bruce McClintock SC
Bruce McClintock has over 25 years’ experience as a Senior Counsel in Australia and the United States, including experience of investigations and commissions of inquiry. In 2017, he was appointed as the Inspector of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, a term which will conclude on 30 June 2022. He has also previously served as the Inspector of the Northern Territory Independent Commissioner Against Corruption and the Assistant Inspector of the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.
As Senior Counsel, Mr McClintock has practised extensively in the areas of commercial law, equity and media law, trade practices law, and planning and environment law. He has a well-developed understanding of anti-corruption and integrity principles, issues and current trends.
