25 January 2023
Statement by the Hon. Ann Vanstone KC
Commissioner, Independent Commission Against Corruption
The Independent Commission Against Corruption plays an important role in preventing and minimising corruption in public administration. One way of achieving this is to evaluate public authorities’ practices, policies and procedures and assess the way in which they guard against corruption risks.
I have decided to commence an evaluation of the practices, policies and procedures of a number of public authorities in relation to grants administration. This function is widely performed in public administration, with programs varying significantly in their purpose, monetary value and beneficiaries.
Grants administration is a function that is vulnerable to corruption. It involves the distribution of significant sums of public money to support business and innovation, provide emergency relief, aid projects and enrich communities. Without robust processes and supervision, grants programs can be exploited by the public officers administering them and by grants recipients.
As well as identifying areas for improvement in the way in which grants are administered by public authorities, the evaluation will provide the opportunity to highlight practices, policies and procedures which are apt to guard against corruption.
In the coming days, I will write to a number of public authorities seeking details of the grants they administer and the processes they employ. Those responses will inform our subsequent activities, which will include reviewing specific grants programs, conducting interviews and inviting submissions.
I will issue further public statements as the evaluation progresses.
I intend to deliver a report to Parliament by the end of the year.
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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 (SA).
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