Anti-corruption watchdog to be given power to investigate lobbyists

THE state’s anti-corruption watchdog will be able to investigate lobbyists and a process will be established for complaints against his office under proposed changes to ICAC laws.

Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Bruce Lander.

• Rau’s vow to keep us in the dark

THE state’s anti-corruption watchdog will be able to investigate lobbyists and a process will be established for complaints against his office under proposed changes to ICAC laws which passed the Parliament’s Lower House this morning.

However, the series of changes, mainly based on recommendations by the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Bruce Lander, ignored his request for the ability to hold public hearings for some investigations.

Attorney-General John Rau said the ICAC and Office of Public Integrity had been in operation some years now so it was time for some “finetuning”.

Attorney-General John Rau.

“As with any new authority and system, it is wise to review the operation to finetune how it works and to ensure it is achieving what it was intended to do,” he said.

“In the case of ICAC, we want to sharpen the focus on investigating corruption and ensure that lesser matters are dealt with by established procedures and government agencies.”

Deputy Opposition Leader Vickie Chapman welcomed the changes but said the Liberals were forced to concede there was no willingness within the Government to allow Mr Lander to conduct public hearings.

She said having a more open ICAC remained a Liberal policy.