NT ICAC inundated
A brand new corruption watchdog has already heard allegations of “real corruption” within the Northern Territory's public service.
The NT's first ICAC commissioner, Ken Fleming QC, says he wants to start investigating the “really concerning” allegations within a few months.
The NT ICAC formally opened on November 30, tasked with receiving, identifying and investigating reports of corruption and misconduct by government, public bodies, public officers and recipients of government money, like contractors and grant recipients.
“There are some serious allegations of real corruption. And it's really concerning,” Mr Fleming has told the ABC.
“Now we don't have very many of them. But the website's only been open for a number of days. And people have to get used to the website.
“But I know of many other things that I will be looking at of my own motion if they don't come in.”
He said he would focus on issues of contemporary, significant and systemic corruption.
“Things like tampering with tendering, deliberately ignoring conflict of interest, obviously stealing money … anything that could constitute a crime and could carry more than a two-year maximum imprisonment penalty is corruption,” Mr Fleming said.