From the Deputy Commissioner

A primary object of the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Act 2012 is to prevent or minimise corruption, misconduct and maladministration in South Australian public administration. An evaluation of a public authority's practices, policies and procedures is an effective way of assisting a public authority to minimise its risks of improper conduct.

After considering a number of complaints and reports made to the Office for Public Integrity about the City of Playford I decided that there may be benefit in conducting an evaluation of its practices, policies and procedures.

The City of Playford, as with all local councils, performs a particularly important function within the local community and it is critical that its functions are carried out appropriately and in a manner that is free of corruption, misconduct and maladministration.

The evaluation will conclude with the provision of a report to both Houses of Parliament. I am hopeful that my report, together with any recommendations made, will be of assistance not only to the City of Playford but to the 67 other local councils in South Australia.

The exercise I am undertaking an evaluation of practices, policies and procedures. It is not an investigation of individual conduct. If, during the course of the evaluation conduct is identified that requires investigation that conduct will be dealt with separately and in accordance with legislation.

The scope of the evaluation will be as follows:

  • The extent to which the City of Playford’s governance framework adequately guards against the risks of corruption, misconduct and maladministration.
  • Practices, policies and procedures in respect of:
  1. Human resource management within the City of Playford and whether those practices, policies and procedures efficiently manage human resources and control the risks of corruption, misconduct and maladministration.
  2. Financial management and whether those practices, policies and procedures adequately manage the risks of corruption, misconduct and maladministration.
  3. Information management and whether those practices, policies and procedures adequately protect the City of Playford’s information assets from misuse.
  4. The availability and use of assets and resources by public officers employed within the City of Playford and whether those practices, policies and procedures provide a sufficient safeguard to minimise the misuse of those assets and resources.

I may amend the scope of the evaluation in light of information received.

I will in due course invite submissions which are relevant to the scope of the evaluation from members of the public. More information about making a submission will be published on the ICAC website in due course.

While I cannot set a definitive timeframe for the evaluation I hope to be in a position to deliver a report to Parliament by the end of the year.

This article was published in Issue #2 - May 2019 of ICAC's Integrity Matters newsletter.