NT ICAC spent more than $1m on consultants in FY20/21

The NT’s anti-corruption watchdog has spent significant amounts of money on consultants this past financial year. find out how much here.

THE Territory’s anti-corruption watchdog spent more than a million dollars on consultants in the past financial year.

But the NT Government has refused to provide details of more than $300,000 spent on contractors who conducted investigations.

In answers published this week in response to written questions submitted to the NT Parliament by Goyder MLA Kezia Purick, the Government confirmed the O/ICAC had spent $1.081 million on external consultants in the financial year ending June 30, 2021.

This was up from $892,000 the previous financial year.

Almost $400,000 was spent on legal services provided by barristers. This included $106,000 for Nick Papas QC, who has since been appointed the Acting Director of Public Prosecutions.

Rex Wild QC was paid $94,000 in the past financial year. Barrister Jodi Truman received $93,000 in 2020/21 after being paid $39,000 in 2019/20.

The O/ICAC spent $164,000 on technical and IT consultants in the past financial year, up from $98,000 the previous year.

Another $61,000 was spent on transcriber services, up from $16,000 in 2019/20.

Responses to questions sent to Chief Minister Michael Gunner – who is also the Minister for the ICAC – show Women that Work (NT) was paid $156,000 for investigations research in 2020/21, up from $104,000 the previous year.

But the response said the Government was exempt from providing further details of contracts awarded for investigations, as usually required under the Procurement Act.

“Some of the functions discharged by the Independent Commissioner against Corruption require secrecy,” it said.

“The absence of secrecy can compromise investigations, unnecessarily identify whistleblowers and unduly prejudice reputations.”

Commissioner Michael Riches stopped the use of external contractors for investigations after his appointment in July.

It followed an investigation from ICAC Inspector Bruce McClintock SC which dismissed complaints about the decision to award contracts to former South Australian police officer David McGinlay, whose domestic partner Kate Kelly was the O/ICAC’s Director of Investigations.

Ms Kelly has since resigned.

The O/ICAC has underspent its budget in each of its three full years in operation. Its budget increased from $3.6 million in 2018/19 to $8.19 million in 2020/21, but was reduced to $7.6 million this financial year.

Ms Purick sued the ICAC last year over a report that found she had engaged in corrupt conduct when she was the Speaker. The matter was settled confidentially last December with both parties refusing to say if she was paid any financial compensation.