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Oversight and accountability

ICAC Inspector

The independent ICAC Inspector oversees the conduct of the Commissioner and his staff.

The Inspector's role is to:

  • evaluate the Commissioner’s performance
  • receive and deal with complaints about the Commissioner or members of his staff
  • evaluate aspects of the ICAC’s operations or conduct of a member of the Commissioner's staff
  • make recommendations to the Commissioner or public bodies regarding practices and procedures in relation to the performance of functions under the ICAC Act.

The Inspector must be a former judge of a superior court or a lawyer with 10 or more years’ experience. The Inspector is appointed for 5 years and may be reappointed for a further period of 5 years. The Inspector cannot be a previous Commissioner or OICAC staff member.

The current Inspector is Mr Bruce McClintock SC.

You can find more information on the ICAC Inspector website.

Annual report and budget

The Commissioner must provide the ICAC Minister with an annual report about his activities for the previous financial year.

The annual report must contain:

  • the number and nature of allegations of improper conduct
  • the number of concluded investigations of misconduct and unsatisfactory conduct, including those undertaken under the limitation of functions
  • the number of written notices to attend examination that didn’t comprehensively state the nature of the matter under investigation
  • the number and nature of mandatory reports
  • number and nature of referrals
  • number and nature of search warrants
  • the number and nature of non-disclosure directions
  • indication of activities to prevent and respond to retaliation
  • indication and results of activities undertaken to prevent, detect and respond to improper conduct
  • details of staff suitability checks.

The Commissioner’s annual budget covers operational costs for investigations, education and prevention activities and staff costs. More information is available on the NT Budget 2023 website.

Auditor-General

The Auditor-General audits the Commissioner’s financial statements, performance management systems, and accounting processes.

Parliamentary Standing Committee on the ICAC

The functions of the Standing Committee on the ICAC are to:

  • perform the functions of the Assembly Committee under the ICAC Act
  • examine each annual report of the Commissioner and the Inspector
  • report to the Legislative Assembly on certain reports made to the Assembly by the Commissioner
  • look at trends, legislation and administration of other similar agencies around Australia and internationally to ensure the Commissioner remains fit-for-purpose.

Judicial review

Certain decisions made by the Commissioner, or a member of the Commissioner’s staff, can be the subject of an application for judicial review to the NT Supreme Court.

Updated 27 March 2024