NT Government pledges action over ICAC corruption findings

The NT government says it is acting on the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) Commissioner’s recommendations after he found corrupt conduct by public servants in two separate investigations linked to recruitment.

Public Employment Minister Paul Kirby ... ‘Recruitment practices in the public sector should be designed to ensure that only the most suitable applicants are selected’

• ICAC probe clears public servants of ‘improper’ conduct

THE NT government says it is acting on the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) Commissioner’s recommendations after he found corrupt conduct by public servants in two separate investigations linked to recruitment.

Public Employment Minister Paul Kirby said the findings were “serious”.

They included claims Ashley Brown, a security manager at Royal Darwin Hospital, stole money and valuables from patients and had a criminal history of theft prior to being hired.

A second ICAC investigation found Shaylee Sten was hired as a public officer by the Territory Families, Housing and Communities Department after impersonating a person she listed as a referee by using her husband’s phone as the contact number.

“The Commissioner for Public Employment will thoroughly review the ICAC recommendations,” Mr Kirby said.

“Recruitment practices in the public sector should be designed to ensure that only the most suitable applicants are selected.”

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Mr Kirby did not say what the full extent of the recommendations was but the ICAC Commissioner has revealed he has recommended sweeping reviews of recruitment within the NT government.

ICAC Commissioner Ken Fleming said better recruitment screening would have prevented the staff being hired.