South Australia's ICAC open for business, but dealings will be private until they reach court
Wednesday 4 September 2013 @ 8.45 a.m. | Crime | Judiciary, Legal Profession & Procedure
The opening of South Australia's Independent Commission Against Corruption has been a long-awaited event; however, critics are saying that the lack of public hearings will lead to a lack of transparency.
Bruce Lander QC, the new Independent Commissioner Against Corruption, said he had mixed feelings about the task ahead.
"I think I'm excited because there's so much to look forward to in terms of work to be done and apprehensive because I don't know how much work there is to be done."
South Australia's ICAC experience will be different to that of New South Wales, where the corruption inquiry into former Labor government ministers revealed scandalous evidence and became a media spectacle.
Instead, investigations referred to the ICAC in SA will remain private until they proceed to court - a sensible approach, according to Mr Lander, who said there was no need to "shame people who are not guilty of corruption."
The commissioner said that public hearings would tarnish the reputation of innocent parties, impede investigations, and potentially hinder charges against a person of interest in the future.
However, the South Australian Opposition have argued that the need for more transparency for the new body outweighs other concerns, and have vowed the change the model if elected next year.
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