NT ICAC commissioner Michael Riches resigns

Michael Riches, who has been on an almost half a million dollar salary during his leave period, has tendered his resignation. Here’s what we know.

NT Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) Michael Riches. Picture: Office of the ICAC/Supplied

Northern Territory anti-corruption commissioner Michael Riches, who has been on indefinite paid leave from his role since mid-2024, has resigned just days after a report probing allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” in his office was finalised.

Mr Riches, who has been on an almost half a million dollar salary during his leave period, tendered his resignation to the NT Administrator on Tuesday, who accepted it.

His last day in the role will be Thursday and it is understood no severance payment will be made apart from existing entitlements.

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro issued a statement late Tuesday evening saying:

“This evening, I provided an update to the Legislative Assembly that on 20 June 2024, then Chief Minister Eva Lawler advised the Legislative Assembly that she had referred workplace allegations within the Office of the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) to the Commissioner for Public Employment for investigation.

The process, outlined by Ms Lawler at the time, was as follows:

“Once the Commissioner for Public Employment has completed the investigation, this report will be provided to me as the relevant minister. On receipt I will refer the findings to the ICAC Inspector for him to consider and to determine whether the findings of the investigation warrant further action in line with the inspector’s jurisdiction under the ICAC Act.”

On Wednesday 7 May 2025, I received the report titled ‘Confidential Report for Nicole Hurwood, Commissioner for Public Employment in the matter of the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption, Michael Riches’ from Commissioner Hurwood.

I immediately provided the report to the Inspector of the ICAC.

Last Friday, I provided a public update and indicated that, upon completion, the Inspector of ICAC report will be tabled in Parliament.

Today, the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption, Michael Riches, resigned which was accepted by the Administrator with effect this Thursday 15 May 2025.

The Inspector of the ICAC has subsequently written to me today, which I have tabled in Parliament, and informed that he has exercised his discretion under the Act to terminate the investigation as it is no longer in the public interest and is an unnecessary expenditure of Territory resources.

As a result of the Inspector of the ICAC’s investigation concluding, I have today requested the Commissioner for Public Employment necessitate sufficient redaction to allow for privacy and confidentiality concerns to be allayed and for the Confidential Report to be published on the OCPE’s website.

As a new Government, we share the community’s frustrations regarding the length of time and costs in which this whole process has taken.

The Acting ICAC Commissioner will remain in place to provide certainty.

The CLP confirms it is committed to the ICAC as evidenced by today’s Budget of $6.6 million for the agency in 2025-26.”

Mr Riches has been under scrutiny for the past year after allegations of inappropriate behaviour were made by his staff during an investigation into a separate matter.

At the time, Mr Riches denied any wrongdoing towards his staff, saying he had always acted in a professional manner toward them.

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro in the Northern Territory Parliament. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Originally published as NT ICAC commissioner Michael Riches resigns