ICAC boss Ann Vanstone finishes up – so who’s taking over?

ICAC boss Ann Vanstone will end her reign as the state’s anti-corruption commissioner on Friday. The state government has appointed her successor.

The state government has appointed a temporary Independent Commissioner Against Corruption to fill the vacancy left by Ann Vanstone, who quit just over halfway through her term.

Ms Vanstone will finish up in the role on Friday.

Her interim successor is ICAC’s current legal and compliance director, Ben Broyd.

Mr Broyd, who will assume the role of acting ICAC from tomorrow until March 2, 2025, has previously worked for the Police Integrity Commission of NSW and for the NSW Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

In SA, he has worked for the Crown Solicitor before becoming ICAC’s legal and compliance director in October, 2022.

Ms Vanstone served four of her seven-year term as the ICAC, announcing her resignation in July.

The former Supreme Court judge has been a vocal critic of the 2021 amendments to the ICAC Act, saying the laws weakened the commission’s powers and shielded politicians from scrutiny.

Ann Vanstone finishes up as ICAC boss tomorrow. Picture Tony Lewis Photography

Ms Vanstone has also raised concerns about a provision placed in the amended Act that she believed meant that any state politician, public sector worker or board member investigated by ICAC and charged with theft or deception offences – rather than corruption charges – would be entitled, without discretion, to have their legal costs reimbursed regardless of whether they are convicted, and even jailed, or otherwise.

She has also said the amendments quashed the ICAC’s ability to liaise directly with the Director of Public Prosecutions on matters it has been investigating – instead the responsibility to discuss ICAC-led inquiries with the DPP falls with SA Police.

In a previous statement announcing her resignation, Ms Vanstone said there were two reasons she remained in the role “despite my frustrations with the scheme that governs it”.

“I perhaps naively expected that the weaknesses and issues I have identified would be addressed,” she said.

“That has not happened and I have no confidence that it would, even if I stayed until the end of my term.

“Most importantly, I have stayed for the staff, to help them retain faith that the work they do is important and valuable, notwithstanding the attacks on the Commission – But I have run out of steam.”