The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) will conduct a series of educational and information events over the next two weeks as part of an outreach program that will return to Western Sydney for the first time in 16 years.
A highlight of the visit will be a discussion with ICAC Chief Commissioner the Hon John Hatzistergos AM and Commissioner the Hon Helen Murrell SC, who will address approximately 118 guests, mostly public officials, at a special forum in Parramatta on Thursday morning 24 October 2024.
Chief Commissioner Hatzistergos said outreach programs are an important way for the Commission to connect with NSW public officials and communities.
"Western Sydney is a fast-growing region. It is not only home to an increasing number of residents, and a vibrant social and cultural area, but is also the location of several State Government agencies and local councils," Chief Commissioner Hatzistergos said. "The Commission is keen to share information with public officials and others in Western Sydney about the work and functions of the ICAC and the role – and in some cases obligations ¬– that they have in helping to raise awareness and report suspected corrupt conduct."
Workshops scheduled for this visit include corruption prevention for managers, which focuses on developing an understanding of the nature of corruption, how and why it occurs, and what managers can do to prevent it; corruption prevention in procurement and contract management, which aims to assist managers and staff responsible for procurement to identify where systems weaknesses and corruption opportunities may lie; and corruption prevention in the NSW planning system, which will assist officers involved in assessing property development and rezoning applications and related certification to identify and manage the corruption risks associated with these activities.
There will also be a fact finder workshop, to assist public officials with little or no investigative experience who may be required to conduct an internal fact-finding investigation, and a workshop for electorate office staff located in the area. A session for returning and newly-elected councillors will also be conducted as part of the visit.
This ICAC program has been in place since 2001 and mainly comprises about two visits per year throughout rural and regional NSW. The last visit to Western Sydney was based in Rooty Hill in 2008.
