ICAC Commissioner Ken Fleming right to stand aside from investigation

WHEN the NT Government installed its first Independent Commissioner Against Corruption last year it did not come a moment too soon

Independent Commission Against Corruption Commissioner Ken Fleming QC has stood down from overseeing the internal police investigation into the shooting death of Kumanjayi Walker. Picture: Emma Murray

• ICAC Commissioner stands down from investigation
• FORMER Attorney-General calls on ICAC Commissioner to stand down

WHEN the NT Government installed its first Independent Commissioner Against Corruption last year it did not come a moment too soon.

The Territory is possibly one of the most scandal-prone jurisdiction in Australia and there are countless examples throughout our history of times when a bit of oversight could have prevented a whole lot of trouble.

That’s why it’s so important that ICAC boss Ken Fleming impeccably maintains his independence and the unblemished respect of the NT community.

No one would argue with the sentiment that “black lives matter”, it is self-evidently true.

But when Mr Fleming made the statement in the wake of the tragic death of Kumanjayi Walker earlier this month and followed it up with “anybody who says contrary to that is guilty of corrupt behaviour”, the comments were ill-advised.

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Mr Fleming will no longer play a key role in getting to the bottom of the tragedy and while his words may have rung true to many, others felt it was too soon to be weighing in on the issue publicly.

In such an important role as Mr Fleming’s the perception of independence can be just as important as the independence itself and it’s vital that all Territorians have absolute confidence in his.

The same words from another source may not have been such a problem but Mr Fleming must hold himself to the highest of standards.

Stamping out corruption is too important a job to accept anything else.