Sydney barrister Bruce McClintock appointed Northern Territory ICAC inspector

SYDNEY defamation barrister Bruce McClintock SC has been appointed Independent Commission Against Corruption inspector

Sydney barrister Bruce McClintock is the NT’s new ICAC inspector. Picture: John Appleyard

A SYDNEY defamation barrister who has represented high-profile clients including cricketer Chris Gayle and ex-treasurer Joe Hockey has been appointed the Independent Commission Against Corruption inspector.

Bruce McClintock SC will evaluate the body’s performance, deal with complaints and make recommendations about its operation.

He will remain in his role as inspector for the NSW ICAC.

Mr McClintock is one of Sydney’s highest-profile barristers, and has also acted in defamation matters for actor Geoffrey Rush and Chinese businessman Chau Chak Wing

He has also written two reports about the NSW ICAC, including the 2015 report on which recent legislative amendments were based.

The role of ICAC inspector is an independent statutory appointment and isn’t subject to direction from any other party.

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Kenneth Fleming started in his role as ICAC Commissioner in July but the ICAC is yet to officially begin. Chief Minister Michael Gunner said Mr McClintock’s appointment to a five-year term would help to restore trust in government.

The Territory’s ICAC will hold most of its inquiries behind closed doors.

Mr Fleming previously told the NT News he expected to deal with a “flood” of referrals of potentially corrupt dealings to come to his attention as he gets to work in coming months.

But he warned those seeking salacious details of alleged dodgy deals to temper their expectations.

“I think (the public) will be expecting much more information than I’ll be able to give them because confidentiality surrounds a report and confidentiality surrounds an investigation.”