Chief Integrity Commissioner Aziz Gregory Melick ‘wouldn’t consider stepping aside’ amid Ali Sultan case

A major company director involved in a court case surrounding late developer Ali Sultan’s will has said his role as Chief Integrity Commissioner would not be affected by legal proceedings. LATEST >>

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A major company director involved in a court case surrounding late developer Ali Sultan’s will has said his role as Chief Integrity Commissioner would not be affected by legal proceedings.

Aziz Gregory Melick, also known as Greg Melick AO SC, has said no one has questioned the validity of his part time role with the Integrity Commission amid the Supreme Court of Tasmania proceedings surrounding Sultan Holdings Pty Ltd, a development company for which he is one of six directors.

“I wouldn’t consider stepping aside, I’ve done nothing wrong,” Mr Melick said.

Aziz Gregory Melick. Sultan case at the supreme court in Hobart. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

It comes as the court has heard Ali Sultan’s business associates allegedly appointed themselves directors of his company, approved upwards of $150,000 in pay rises for fellow directors and the use of estate money to pay school fees, just days after the Tassie property mogul died.

Mr Melick said he would not comment on court proceedings as they were happening, but shared details of his role on the Integrity Commission to which he was appointed in 2015.

“I was asked to undertake it by the Attorney directly,” he said.

Mr Melick said he “always” declared his interests, such as his roles as founder of Pressing Matters Vineyard and RSL National President, and said if a conflict were to arise he would declare it, adding the only major rule limiting his external interests was one preventing him from being a member of a political party.

Greg Melick, at his vineyard established at Richmond in 2002, Pressing Matters Vineyard, with his dog Otto.

He said his recent role as an independent reviewer into the response to the North-West Tasmania Covid-19 Outbreak also did not compromise his standing as Chief Integrity Commissioner.

“I did not step aside and there’s no reason why I should,” Mr Melick said.

“However I did forgo my Integrity Commission wages for the major part of that investigation.”

Aziz Gregory Melick at the Supreme Court in Hobart. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Mr Melick said he made the decision to go without pay to avoid being seen as “double-dipping”.

The Office of Chief Commissioner is not subject to the State Service Act 2000 as it is statutorily independent.

Section 15E of the state Integrity Commission Act 2009 states the Governor can suspend the Chief Commissioner if they have conducted “misconduct” – however, there are no allegations of misconduct against Mr Melick.