Gladys Berejiklian resignation: The power trio behind ICAC revealed

ICAC would have known its announcement could spell the end of Gladys Berejiklian at a time when NSW faces perhaps its toughest few weeks. So what is ICAC and who is pulling the strings?

It’s the secretive corruption watchdog that works in the dark.

It has ended political careers, resulted in members of parliament ultimately being sent to jail and is now responsible for investigating the outgoing Premier.

But who are the people at the top of the agency which wields such great power?

Most of its work is done behind closed doors or in private hearings by people not prone to the spotlight and totally independent of the government that funds them.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is the third head of the state to fall due to ICAC inquiries since it was formed in 1988, all of which have been from the Liberal party, though it has resulted in the jailings of Labor figures.

At the top of the agency are its three commissioners: Patricia McDonald SC, Stephen Rushton SC and Chief Commissioner Peter Hall QC.

Patricia McDonald SC.

Ms McDonald is at the back end of her term as part-time commissioner, which is due to end in August 2022.

Having been a barrister since 1996, she was appointed to the role in 2017 after a career specialising in corporate fraud cases, tax law as well as drug and terrorism matters.

Recently, she was the prosecutor in the case against journalist Stephen Barrett, who is to face a second trial relating to an alleged attempt to blackmail players involved in the biggest tax scandal in Australia’s history.

She has also appeared as counsel assisting royal commissions and before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Stephen Rushton SC. Picture: AAP/Peter Rae

Another part-time commissioner Stephen Rushton, is also a former Commonwealth prosecutor who was called to the bar in 1986.

His previous work includes appearances at ICAC, the police integrity commission and the coroner’s court.

Until last year he was the environmental counsel to the Environment Protection Authority, a role he had since 1997.

ICAC Chief Commissioner Peter Hall QC. Picture: AAP/Joel Carrett

At the top of the tree is Chief Commissioner Peter Hall QC.

His decorated career began in 1970 and he’s been in the top job at ICAC since 2017.

During his time across the state’s courts he was the lead barrister investigating the Waterfall train disaster before moving into several lesser roles at the commission before his appointment in 2017.

The commission, which has itself flagged how funding cuts have hampered its investigative work, has a team of investigators behind the scenes.

But at the front of their work are the “counsel assisting”, known for probing witnesses at public hearings in a bid to get the truth.

Supplied Editorial ICAC commissioners and staff with Gladys Berejiklian

The man who probed Gladys Berejiklian and her former lover Daryl Maguire was forefront in the public eye during last year’s high profile public hearings.

Young barrister Scott Robertson was the one who the public heard from about the private relationship, as well as damning phone intercepts between the pair.

After giving evidence in private and public hearings, the commission will extend its focus directly onto the now former premier when the hearings kick off on October 18.