2019-03-12
The Greens NSW have today announced their action plan to tackle corruption involving public officials in NSW, pledging a doubling of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC)’s budget and their intention to reintroduce a bill to tackle corruption in the state.
“People are rightly demanding higher standards for all public officials and we know that ICAC could get investigate more of the rampant crime and misconduct taking place, everyday, if they were appropriately resourced.” Jamie Parker MP for Balmain said.
“ICAC needs money to recruit additional investigators, for strategic data analysts, and surveillance staff. They also need information, communication and technological equipment to meet their operational requirements.
“The Greens are proposing a doubling of ICAC’s $27 million budget to assist them to tackle the weeping sore on our politics and public service.
“ICAC needs more money and we need far stronger laws when it comes to corruption and public office in this state, it’s a scandal what is taking place out there.
“Currently ICAC can only investigate a fraction of the complaints it receives.
“Over decades, successive Liberal and Labor governments have passed hundreds of laws making clear criminal penalties for a range of criminal conduct, some without merit - but they have completely failed to address corruption,” he said.
"New corruption laws were proposed by the ICAC in their submission to the ICAC Committee's Inquiry into Prosecutions Arising from Independent Commission Against Corruption Investigations back in 2014.
"It's unbelievable that the government has failed year after year to take up these important proposals from ICAC.
"In NSW, corruption crimes are still primarily governed by ancient and outdated common law offences. We need new, modern and effective laws that clearly codify bribery, misconduct and corruption in public office so that ICAC's findings can be translated into charges and convictions that stick.
“NSW is a state plagued by scandal when it comes to corruption and we must be addressing it much more forcefully, providing the resources required to the watchdog and investigators.
“We desperately need to create new criminal offences for corrupt conduct, and we will be moving that bill after the election.
“Unlike the ALP and Liberal/Nationals, the Greens have never had to appear at ICAC,” Parker said.
Our action plan:
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Double ICAC’s funding so they have the resources to rigorously carry out investigations.
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Reintroduce a Crimes Amendment (Misconduct in Public Office and Other Matters) Bill to better capture corrupt conduct including:
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Bribing public officials;
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Public officials accepting bribes;
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Public officials misusing information obtained in an official capacity;
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Public officials engaging in official conduct for dishonest purposes;
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Public officials acting in matters in which they have a financial interest;
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Conspiring to dishonestly obtain a benefit from, or to defraud, public authorities or public officials.