National integrity groups warn NT government's new integrity commission a backwards step
Integrity experts across Australia have united to condemn the CLP’s one super anti-corruption agency, warning it could make the Territory's corruption problem worse.
National transparency and integrity groups have warned the Northern Territory government’s creation of one ‘super’ anti-corruption commission risks a weaker watchdog and threatens public trust.
The CLP’s Integrity and Ethics Commissioner Bill merges the ICAC, Ombudsman, Information Commissioner and the health complaints commission into a single role, supported by shared services that include the Auditor-General.
Groups including the Australian Democracy Network (ADN), Australasian Council of Auditors General, Centre for Public Integrity, NT Mental Health Coalition and the NT Anti-Discrimination Commission have all raised concerns it marked a backwards step for integrity in the Territory.
“It produces a dangerous concentration of power and weak oversight over critical government integrity functions” ADN campaigns director Andrew Beaton said.
“Strong, independent integrity bodies are crucial in a fair and functioning democracy. We’re deeply concerned that a flawed process, without proper consultation, resulted in a rushed proposal with structural risks.”
The CLP model implements the full recommendations of the McClintock-Hiley review into statutory integrity offices.
It was prompted in part by the string of leadership and effectiveness issues that have plagued the Territory ICAC since its inception.
NT ICAC Inspector Bruce McClintock and Supreme Court Justice Graham Hiley conducted their review over three weeks earlier this year.
It recognised structural, operational, and resourcing challenges across the NT’s integrity bodies, and recommended the centralised Integrity and Ethics Commission as a way to reduce duplication, enable resource sharing and clarify governance roles.
The Bill was passed into law on Tuesday evening, but critics wanted to see it withdrawn or sent to the scrutiny committee.
“Conflict of interests, poor governance and perceptions of corruption have cast a long shadow over NT’s integrity agencies, so reform is badly needed,” Transparency International Australia chief executive Clancy Moore said.
Mr Moore had wanted the Finocchiaro government to put the Bill under the microscope of a parliamentary inquiry and “include important guardrails to enshrine the agency’s independence, deal with conflict of interests and ensure appointments are based on merit with transparent selection criteria.”
The Centre for Public Integrity echoed concerns that a ‘super-commission’ could dilute specialist functions and create serious actual or perceived conflicts of interest.
“These reforms will not solve the Northern Territory’s gathering integrity crisis … they risk making it worse,” the centre’s Will Partlett said.
Independent NT politician Justine Davis hosted a “community scrutiny forum” in lieu of the integrity Bill going to a parliamentary committee.
She said the unanimously critical submissions showed a law that failed in its key aim to improve public trust.
“The CLP government claims this isn’t a cost-cutting measure, but refuses to show us the numbers or give the community a say,” Ms Davis said.
“When a piece of law with such significant changes to our integrity system is opposed by integrity experts across Australia, ignoring their advice would be doing all Territorians a disservice.”
NT Labor also opposed the Bill, and called for a mandatory 12-month report back to parliament.
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Originally published as National integrity groups warn NT government's new integrity commission a backwards step
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