A Shameful Chapter in South Australia's History

Today I publish my investigation report on the Oakden Older Persons Mental Health Facility, 'Oakden" A Shameful Chapter in South Australia's History'.

Every South Australian should feel outraged at what happened at the Oakden Facility. The consumers at Oakden were poorly cared for, forgotten and ignored. The Facility itself was grossly substandard.

I have made findings of maladministration against five individuals and the public authority responsible for the facility. Those findings do not however tell the entire story of responsibility for what went wrong at the Oakden Facility. Senior people, including Ministers and Chief Executives, who were responsible by virtue of their office for the delivery of care and services to the consumers at the Oakden Facility, should have known what was going on but did not. I found this astonishing.

I have made 13 recommendations. The report and recommendations should be considered by all public officers in positions of authority as there are salient lessons to be learned for many agencies.

This investigation was conducted in private as required by the legislation. However, it has reinforced my view that the ICAC Act should be amended to give me the discretion to conduct such investigations in public.

My report is thorough and speaks for itself and I do not at this time consider it necessary for me to provide any further commentary.

PUBLIC STATEMENT BY THE HON. BRUCE LANDER QC INDEPENDENT COMMISSIONER AGAINST CORRUPTION

Related Downloads:
ICAC Public Statement - 28 February 2018