In 2023, the Commission will have a strong focus on preventing corruption.

Our most valuable work lies in helping agencies to strengthen their ability to detect and prevent corruption. We do this in a number of ways.

The Commission’s education and evaluation functions specifically serve the prevention objective of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 2012 (ICAC Act) but we look for corruption prevention opportunities in all our activities including through our investigations and research programs.

Last year the Commission completed an evaluation of targeted aspects of the Central Adelaide Local Health Network and made 25 corruption prevention recommendations in a report tabled in Parliament in November.

In March, my report of the evaluation of practices, policies and procedures of TAFE SA will be tabled in Parliament.

This year the Commission will undertake an evaluation of grants administration to identify areas for improvement. Grants administration is an activity that is generally accepted as being susceptible to corruption. The aim of the evaluation is to ensure that the practices, policies and procedures relating to the administration of grants schemes are suitably robust to protect grants from corrupt conduct.

Other prevention activities on our radar this year include work relating to the procurement of contractors and consultants. We will also conduct research in the area of unsolicited bids and lobbying, and examine integrity in the public university sector.

Our prevention work serves to protect the integrity of public administration. Public officers assist us to perform our work by reporting any conduct they suspect to be corrupt to the Office for Public Integrity.