Corruption watchdog to brief government ministers to prevent another Oakden scandal occurring

THE state’s corruption watchdog has taken it upon himself to brief Government ministers about key integrity issues after the Oakden nursing home scandal.

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THE state’s corruption watchdog has taken it upon himself to brief Government ministers about key integrity issues after the Oakden nursing home scandal.

Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Bruce Lander will regularly brief new Premier Steven Marshall’s team after he was “astonished” key members of the former Labor Government were not aware about the prolonged history of abuse and neglect occurring at the Oakden nursing home.

Mr Lander was scathing of the former minister responsible for the Oakden facility, Leesa Vlahos, but did not find any minister had committed maladministration.

In a statement, Mr Lander said he had formed the view that the public could not assume that information about maladministration and governance failures were being passed on to ministers.

Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Bruce Lander at Parliament House during a public integrity hearing. Picture: AAP / David Mariuz

“I decided that, to the extent we are able to do so, my office and the Office of Public Integrity should play a part in ensuring ministers are informed,” Mr Lander said.

He said briefings would not reveal anything that would jeopardise investigations.

Mr Lander’s 456-page report into Oakden found five senior nursing home staff and health system administrators had committed maladministration.

In his report, he said the widespread abuse and neglect at Oakden was “a shocking indictment on its management and oversight”.

“It represents a shameful chapter in this state’s history. It should not have happened. It must never happen again,” Mr Lander’s report said.

Mr Lander met with Mr Marshall and Attorney-General Vickie Chapman on Tuesday.

Ms Chapman said she would work through the legislative changes needed to allow Mr Lander to hold maladministration hearings in public “as a matter of priority”.

The legislation is likely to sail through Parliament given the crossbench has voiced support for open hearings.

“The former Labor government had a shameful record on transparency and accountability measures, and its constant attempts at frustrating the ICAC’s wish for open hearings into maladministration was disgraceful,” Ms Chapman said.

Mr Lander has also pledged to make more information public about the work of his organisation.

He said monthly figures about the number of investigations opened and closed and complaints received would be published on the ICAC website from August.