Outgoing ICAC Commissioner reveals cost of corruption to NT taxpayers is significant

INDEPENDENT Commissioner Against Corruption Ken Fleming QC has outlined his office’s impact in battling misconduct within the NT’s public service, in his final swansong before stepping down from the role.

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INDEPENDENT Commissioner Against Corruption Ken Fleming QC has outlined his office’s impact in battling misconduct within the NT’s public service, in his final swansong before stepping down from the role.

It comes after the NT News reported on Tuesday that the ICAC Inspector Bruce McClintock was looking into alleged conflict of interest allegations.

Appearing next to Chief Minister Michael Gunner, Mr Fleming said the cost of corruption to taxpayers was significant.

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Since commencing in November 2018, the ICAC had investigated 27 matters.

Mr Fleming also said a dramatic increase in reports from government agencies, from 24 per cent of reports to 62 per cent, was a sign the ICAC was “embedding itself” in the public service and was well respected.

Mr Fleming also addressed “conflict of interest” allegations swirling around his office.

He said the ICAC had internally declared and treated 397 conflicts of interest across 30 staff, describing the level of scrutiny within the office as “remarkably high”.

“We are very concerned to make sure that the people we onboard are people who know what they’re doing, are very competent,” Mr Fleming said.

“I can tell you that we do not run a general scan for something that might be called intelligence.”

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