OPINION: ICAC’s secret tapes bombshell blows away claims of government integrity
The ICAC secretly recorded a meeting with former opposition leader Gary Higgins, just further proof that ‘Restoring Integrity in Government’ has become a running joke in the Territory, writes Matt Cunningham.
Opinion
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IN 2016, the Gunner Government was elected on a platform of rebuilding trust after four years of CLP chaos.
Labor even produced a document titled “Restoring Integrity in Government” which outlined how it planned to regain the confidence of Territorians.
That 31-page dossier is a running joke these days given Labor’s hopeless failure to deliver on most of the things it promised.
These included improved Freedom of Information laws and Parliamentary reform, even arguing the case for an Independent Speaker.
The centrepiece of this trust-restoration exercise was the establishment of the Office of the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption.
But rather than being restored, each new revelation about the actions within that office, sees the public’s trust wane.
Today, this column can reveal the O/ICAC covertly recorded a conversation with former Opposition Leader Gary Higgins.
Why it saw fit to do this is hard to comprehend. Mr Higgins was never under investigation in any ICAC matter.
In fact, in this case, he’d been asked to come in and lend the ICAC a helping hand.
O/ICAC general manager Matthew Grant sent Mr Higgins a text that said: “Hi Gary please call Matt Grant at the ICAC.
The Commissioner is seeking historic information from a truthful source and unfortunately due to your age and your inherent character you satisfy both criteria. Regards Matt.”
Mr Higgins attended a meeting held in Commissioner Ken Fleming QC’s office in Cavenagh St.
Mr Grant was also there, as was another ICAC investigator.
As Mr Grant’s text message indicates, Mr Higgins had every right to believe this was an informal chat where he was being asked to give the ICAC some assistance with background information.
He didn’t bring a lawyer – nor would he have been expected to given the tone of the request.
Yet last month Mr Higgins was contacted by new Commissioner Michael Riches who informed him the O/ICAC had secretly recorded this conversation.
Mr Higgins confirmed this when contacted this week but wished to make no further comment.
Mr Riches says the matter has now been referred to ICAC Inspector Bruce McClintock SC, who was already investigating other secret ICAC recordings, including one of Darwin Turf Club board member Anya Lorimer.
“In 2020 Mr Higgins participated in a conversation on ICAC premises that was recorded without his knowledge,” he Mr Riches said.
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“Mr Higgins is aware that the conversation was recorded and I have reported the matter to the Independent ICAC Inspector.
“Given the matter is now with the Inspector I will not comment further, other than to reiterate my view that such conduct is inappropriate and will not occur while I am Commissioner.”
Mr Grant’s text message has also been referred to the Inspector.
The Higgins recording raises many questions about the integrity – and even the objectivity – of the anti-corruption commission Labor established on coming to power in 2016.
Why was the conversation secretly recorded?
Why did Mr Grant give Mr Higgins the impression he was being called in for a friendly chat when the O/ICAC planned to covertly record the conversation?
Surely, now, anyone asked to give the ICAC a helping hand with some background information would be well advised to engage a lawyer and tell them to politely get stuffed.
And who else has the O/ICAC secretly recorded?
The Opposition might like to know if it has secretly recorded Chief Minister Michael Gunner or any other Labor MLAs.
Or is this treatment only reserved for CLP politicians?
And what of Mr Grant, who has been seconded from the O/ICAC to work for the Northern Territory Police.
This secondment has occurred at the same time the NT Police Special References Unit is investigating allegations of abuse of office within the O/ICAC.
There is no suggestion Mr Grant is under investigation, but he was the second-in-charge at the O/ICAC during the period being investigated.
There has been no response to attempts to put questions to Mr Grant through NT Police and the O/ICAC.
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It should be noted that Mr Riches has done a great deal of work to restore integrity to the O/ICAC since starting as Commissioner last July.
Many of the issues now being identified – including the secret recordings – might never have come to light if not for Mr Riches internal inquiries and subsequent referrals to the Inspector.
He has rightly pointed out that the action of those who work in his office need to be beyond reproach.
The ICAC is now embarking on its most important work to date – the investigation into the decision to charge Constable Zachary Rolfe with the murder of Kumanjayi Walker.
Sadly, it is doing so at time when trust in this institution – and in government – has been seriously eroded.
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