Widow of police officer says ICAC must be reformed, as chief Ann Vanstone QC says proposed legislative changes would ‘cripple’ its operations

The widow of an SA Police chief superintendent who took his own life during an ICAC investigation – but was never accused of corruption – says the anti-corruption body must be reformed.

The widow of a police officer who took his life during an anti-corruption inquiry says South Australia’s ICAC needs fixing “before another family goes through what we have”.

Debbie Barr says she and her late husband – former SA Police chief superintendent Doug Barr – were treated as “master criminals” throughout the 2017 investigation, which lasted almost three years.

Mrs Barr says she supports proposed reforms to ICAC’s functions and powers.

But, in a scathing response, Commissioner Ann Vanstone QC says the amendments governing its operations would “cripple” the organisation.

Mrs Barr told The Advertiser her husband, who served as a police officer for 43 years and was awarded the Australian Police Medal in 2017, had been kept in limbo during the ICAC investigation.

She said in October 2019, Mr Barr was waiting for ICAC to release its investigation draft report, which “would finally let him know, after three years, what ICAC were accusing him of”.

Debbie Barr's husband Doug was a chief superintendent with SA Police but took his own life after being investigated by the ICAC - but was later cleared. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

“After 13 weeks of delay, we still heard nothing from ICAC,” Mrs Barr said.

“The stress had become unbearable. Doug had become despondent waiting. Doug took his life over this investigation. He did this in our family home.”

Mrs Barr said that, months later, ICAC released the report, making it clear her husband was not accused of corruption.

“This document was dated. Apparently it had been ready eight days before he took his life,” she said.

“If ICAC had sent it when it was ready, my husband would still be alive. ICAC has made no apology for this.”

“At every stage, ICAC’s conduct was appalling.

“It was not a corruption matter, as ICAC has since admitted, but Doug and our family were treated as if we were master criminals.

“This should never happen again. We need to fix ICAC before another family goes through what we have.”

Mrs Vanstone, who started her seven-year tenure as ICAC in September last year, raised concerns about the proposed legislative amendments – introduced by SA-Best MLC Frank Pangallo and to be debated in state parliament on Wednesday – including:

Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Ann Vanstone QC – picture Tony Lewis Photography

SHELTERING MPs from ICAC;

LIMITING criminal offences ICAC can investigate;

RESTRAINING ICAC’s ability to speak publicly; and

DECREASING the independence of ICAC.

Labor has not yet reached a decision but it is understood Liberal support for the Bill is likely after threats from at least six Liberal MPs in the past 48 hours to cross the floor. Ms Vanstone said had she known of the private member’s Bill before it was introduced to the upper house, she would have offered assistance.

“There are many parts of the Bill that trouble me, not least of which is the way it moves to shelter members of parliament from the ICAC’s reach,’’ Ms Vanstone said.

“The way I read it, the intent is to remove from ICAC’s jurisdiction any statements made or documents or material tabled in proceedings of the parliament or its committees.

SA Best MP Frank Pangallo. Picture Simon Cross

“Then it sharply narrows the range of offences which ICAC can investigate … like deception, theft, dishonestly dealing with documents. These are the offences we commonly investigate.”

Ms Vanstone (inset left) said public complaints and reports from public officers would be “removed from my sight”. She said a newly independent Office for Public Integrity would decide what might amount to corruption that she might investigate.

Ms Vanstone said the proposed Bill also restrained ICAC’s ability to speak publicly and threatened its independence. She said ICAC would be “subservient to SA Police” and to the reviewer – to be called superintendent – as part of the proposed amendments.

“The same reviewer who, having closely examined our work, has never called into question any use of ICAC’s powers,” Ms Vanstone said.

“The Bill goes far beyond the recommendations of the Crime and Public Integrity Policy Committee. It has been drafted with the most piecemeal understanding of how the act works and with the misunderstanding it doesn’t.”

Ms Vanstone is expected to further detail her concerns over the amendments when she appears before the Crime and Public Integrity Policy Committee on Wednesday.

Mr Pangallo’s amendment Bill is based on 19 recommendations in a report the Crime and Public Integrity Policy Committee finished last year.

“This reform Bill is necessary and timely,’’ Mr Pangallo said when introducing the legislation to the upper house.

“The changes proposed in this Bill are designed to make ICAC a more streamlined and more effective corruption-busting tool and, importantly, a more accountable integrity body.”

Originally published as Widow of police officer says ICAC must be reformed, as chief Ann Vanstone QC says proposed legislative changes would ‘cripple’ its operations