ICAC to focus on major corruption inquiries, not as much maladministration under new head Ann Vanstone

The new ICAC boss has signalled a refocusing for the anti-corruption body, aiming at investigating more complex corruption cases.

The state’s anti-corruption watchdog plans to concentrate on the more “complex and sensitive” investigations — completing them faster with added resources.

Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Ann Vanstone, QC, said she is referring more corruption reports involving public servants to SA police and will not launch maladministration inquiries unless there is a specific need.

In a revealing interview, Ms Vanstone has also questioned the need for a parliamentary select committee to scrutinise a number of historic ICAC probes, warning the findings may embarrass a number of individuals.

Ms Vanstone, who succeeded Bruce Lander, QC, six months ago, has advised her staff of the change in strategy that will more closely triage corruption complaints and reports.

“By managing our investigation case load so that we don’t have too many investigations on foot at any particular time, we will be able to conclude those investigations more quickly,’’ Ms Vanstone said.

“If we conclude investigations more quickly, we may in the long term be better placed to take on more investigations, simply because shorter investigations consume fewer hours.’’

Ms Vanstone said the majority of matters assessed as possible corruption are referred to police, with her office investigating the “more complex, more sensitive’’ matters that require the expertise of an anti-corruption agency.

ICAC Commissioner Ann Vanstone, QC. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

“We will be a little more discerning when applying this criteria in future,’’ she said.

“Having said that, should we be carrying a full case load and a major corruption matter comes up, we would certainly take it on but we might request further resources to do so.’’

Although she has signalled her intention to concentrate on corruption investigations, Ms Vanstone has not ruled conducting maladministration inquiries.

Over the past seven years ICAC has conducted several inquiries into specific agencies.

“There are occasions when the availability of an organisation like this to step in and quickly take hold of something and quickly produce a report are really invaluable,’’ she said. “The Rathjen matter is an example of that. The University of Adelaide is so important to South Australia and that issue needed to be attacked and dealt with. I can’t think of anyone else who could have done it as quickly and efficiently as Mr Lander.’’

Another example was the Oakden inquiry in 2018, which identified systemic failures in the aged-care sector.

“There might be exceptions like that, but by and large those matters will go elsewhere,’’ Ms Vanstone said

Former ICAC commissioner Bruce Lander QC, in May last year. Picture: AAP / David Mariuz

And like her predecessor, she also believes an evaluation of SA Health would have been worthwhile.

Mr Lander and the state government clashed over the predicted $2m cost, with his request for the additional funds to undertake it refused.

“Those evaluations are not well understood. They are terribly valuable,’’ Ms Vanstone said.

“Health is a huge department using immense funds and although his request for $2m sounded like a lot, when you think about it, how much has the government spent on KordaMentha looking at one little sector of health?

“Sometimes it is going to be expensive because we will not have the in-house expertise you need to do them so we will have to get it from outside, but we will do it so much more cheaply than an outside agency.”

Visit advertiser.com.au from Saturday morning for an in-depth, exclusive SA Weekend interview with Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Ann Vanstone

Originally published as ICAC to focus on major corruption inquiries, not as much maladministration under new head Ann Vanstone