Published on 22 June 2022

The Commission today published the findings of its 2021 Public Integrity Survey.

The survey was administered to public officers across state and local government agencies to ascertain their perceptions and experiences of corruption, the vulnerability of their workplaces to corruption, and reporting.

The report explores, among other things, participants’ views and experiences of secondary employment and preferential treatment in the workplace.

While many participants believed their workplace was vulnerable to different forms of corruption, and some had experienced corruption in their workplace, a significant number of participants were reluctant to report their suspicions for fear of negative repercussions.

Notably, participants who held senior leadership roles were less likely to perceive their workplace as vulnerable to corruption, but felt more empowered to report any suspicions.

Commissioner the Hon. Ann Vanstone QC warned “senior leaders should not assume that because they would be ready to report suspicions, other public officers would feel the same. Senior leaders need to pay attention when staff flag suspected corruption, and to appreciate how difficult reporting might be for some officers.”

Many participants took the opportunity to comment on the amendments to the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Act 2012, which were enacted shortly before the survey was administered. Commissioner Vanstone acknowledged that while ‘participants were not asked for their views of the amendments, many expressed an apprehension that the changes had eroded the Commission’s independence’.

The report has been published on the Commission’s website.

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For media enquiries please contact 0428 389 493 or media@icac.sa.gov.au.

The publication of this information has been authorised by the Commissioner under section 54 of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 2012.

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Media release - 22 June 2022