Open ICAC hearings: Report recommends Supreme Court appeal rights

SOUTH Australians should be able to launch a Supreme Court appeal against an ICAC hearing being held in public, a Liberal-dominated parliamentary committee has recommended.

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SOUTH Australians should be able to challenge public ICAC hearings, a Liberal-dominated parliamentary committee has recommended.

The Crime and Public Integrity Committee endorsed ICAC Commissioner Bruce Lander being given powers to hold maladministration and misconduct inquiries in public – but recommended a series of measures to guard against “reputational harm”.

The report recommended people should have the right not to answer questions and found all people appearing before ICAC should have the right to legal representation.

Chair Dennis Hood, who has the casting and deliberative vote in the six-member committee, said the report delivered on the Government’s election commitment.

“It seeks to walk the line between the important rights of those involved and the expectations of the Commissioner in being able to conduct effective investigations,” Mr Hood said.

Attorney-General Vickie Chapman said the Government would consider the report’s eight recommendations.

The Upper House is expected to vote on proposed amendments by the end of the year.