NT introduces new integrity commissioner bill to replace ICAC system
The Chief Minister has unveiled sweeping integrity reforms to merge watchdog agencies, but faces immediate backlash over bypassing parliamentary scrutiny.
A major overhaul of integrity bodies in the Northern Territory promises to rebuild faith in the system and signals a turning point for how integrity is upheld, the Chief Minister says.
Lia Finocchiaro introduced the Integrity and Ethics Commissioner Bill in parliament on Thursday.
The legislation establishes the new Integrity and Ethics Commissioner (IEC), and implements the key recommendations of the recent McClintock-Hiley report in full.
The commissioner will be supported by the Office of the IEC – headed by a separate chief executive – and unifies integrity functions currently split across multiple small agencies.
All existing powers of the NT Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC), Ombudsman, Information Commissioner, and Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner will be retained under the new statutory body.
Mrs Finocchiaro said since the ICAC’s inception in 2018, critical matters had gone unresolved, duplication and dysfunction had persisted, and confidence had been eroded.
“This legislation is about rebuilding faith, delivering a clear, credible model that Territorians can trust,” she said.
“Today marks the beginning of a new era for accountability in the Territory, where integrity is upheld, trust is rebuilt and confidence in public institutions is restored.”
The Bill includes transitional arrangements so that the integrity offices will continue to function through the change.
It will also establish an Integrity Oversight Inspector – similar to the ICAC Inspector – with oversight over both the IEC and the Auditor General.
Mrs Finocchiaro said the inspector would determine how “inevitable” conflicts of duties were managed, given the IEC would wear so many hats.
“If the commissioner identifies a conflict of interest, they must not exercise the relevant power. They must notify the inspector and then it is for the inspector to determine how the conflict is managed,” she said.
The government aims to pass the Bill in November, and then launch a nationwide recruitment process for the inaugural IEC.
Territory Labor and members of the crossbench said the Bill should have been sent to the Legislative Scrutiny Committee.
“Think about the irony here – they are introducing legislation that claims to strengthen integrity but refusing to send it through the integrity checks built into our parliamentary process,” crossbencher Justine Davis said.
Opposition Leader Selena Uibo said “Territorians deserve better”.
“That’s not transparency. That’s not accountability,” she said.
“By blocking committee referral, the CLP has shut Territorians out of a conversation about the very laws designed to protect honesty and accountability in public life.
“Territory Labor Opposition supports reforms that strengthen integrity and rebuild confidence in the Territory’s institutions. But that confidence must be earned through daylight, not secrecy.”
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Originally published as NT introduces new integrity commissioner bill to replace ICAC system
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