Police commissioner Grant Stevens blasts ICAC parliamentary committee

The state’s police commissioner has delivered a scathing takedown of a parliamentary committee investigating harm caused by ICAC.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has sensationally accused a parliamentary committee tasked with investigating harm caused by ICAC inquiries of being the cause of harm itself.

Mr Stevens appeared before the committee on Friday afternoon and did not hold back as he delivered scathing assessment of a parliamentary inquiry into damage, harm or adverse outcomes resulting from ICAC investigations.

“It is ironic that a committee established to investigate harm caused by another authority is itself unnecessarily causing harm,” he said.

Mr Stevens also said it was “ironic that this committee has no rules of procedural fairness for those who are required to appear, or burdens of proof regarding assessment of evidence”.

“It is apparent it does not have a duty of care, or in fact any regard, for the wellbeing of witnesses subject to this process,” he said.

Mr Stevens said the committee had unjustly impugned the reputations of witnesses and officers involved in Operation Bandicoot in the course of its proceedings, and described the inquiry as a “fishing expedition”.

“(The investigating officers) are professional, impartial individuals of integrity,” he said.

As a result of Operation Bandicoot, eight officers in 2014 were accused of stealing from crime scenes.

South Australian Police Commissioner Grant Stevens speaks at the South Australian parliamentary select committee’s ICAC hearing. Picture: Kelly Barnes

In all cases, the officers were either acquitted in the Supreme Court or had charges of public office abuse and aggravated theft withdrawn as a result of deficiencies in evidence and flaws in the investigation and prosecution processes.

Mr Steven’s sharp rebuke came less than 24 hours after state parliament passed controversial legislation that diminishes the power of the independent Commissioner Against Corruption on Thursday evening.

The Bill, which ICAC Ann Vanstone QC has said would also cripple her ability to investigate MPs – was passed by state parliament on Thursday evening.

A spokeswoman for Ms Vanstone said the commissioner was surprised at how quickly the Bill passed through parliament without consulting her or other stakeholders.

Asked if Ms Vanstone would continue as the ICAC, the spokeswoman said her priority was on the welfare of her staff and transitioning to the new scheme.

“After that time, she will consider her position,” she said.

One of the state’s top barristers on Thursday said ICAC had no one to blame but itself and its lack of accountability for the sweeping legislative changes to its powers.

David Edwardson QC, who has represented several ICAC defendants, including former Renewal SA boss John Hanlon, said the organisation had squandered millions of taxpayer dollars – and destroyed lives – by unwisely pursuing cases that should have been dropped.

SA-Best MLC Frank Pangallo, who introduced the Bill said, the legislation did not weaken the state’s integrity agencies and would “actually ensure a smoother and more focused approach”.

SA Best MLC Frank Pangallo.

The Bill will create an Office of the Inspector, which would have extra powers of review and oversight of ICAC, to replace the current ICAC Reviewer.

ICAC will no longer handle misconduct and maladministration matters. This responsibility will fall on the State Ombudsman. ICAC will instead deal only with matters of serious and systemic corruption.

The Office of Public Integrity will become a separate entity which will no longer report to ICAC.

The legislation also contains provisions to better manage public statements and reporting to protect people from reputational damage and introduces remedies.

The Bill drew sharp criticism from Ms Vanstone during a parliamentary hearing on Wednesday.

Ms Vanstone said the legislation sought to shield politicians from scrutiny and she accused a number of Liberal MPs of having a direct conflict of interest in the Bill, given they had been charged with offences as a result of an ICAC investigation or they were the subject of an ongoing probe.

“If this or a similar Bill is passed by the parliament, then it will be plain that politicians do not want an ICAC in South Australia – it’s as simple as that,” Ms Vanstone said at the time.