The Independent Community Accountability Network presents two significant speakers on issues of accountability and government.

7.30 pm on Monday 11th May 2015, Room 3, Hawthorn Community Precinct, 584 Glenferrie Road Hawthorn Melway p.45 D 11

There is no charge and the accommodation is limited. Please RSVP to ican2014@bigpond.com to reserve a seat.

The Hon Stephen Charles QC, former Judge of Appeal, Supreme Court of Victoria talks on  “Is the High Court helping to fight corruption?” 

The High Court decided in ICAC v Cunneen that New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption had limited powers to investigate corrupt conduct. As David Ipp, the former Commissioner has argued, “This means, for example, that ICAC cannot investigate allegations of serious and systemic fraud in state elections or in the making of applications for mining and other licences”. What are the implications of this decision for ICAC in investigating other matters? The Hon Stephen Charles will address this issue in his talk.

For a background to this issue see David Ipp’s article in The Age, “Why ICAC Powers to investigate corruption must be restored”

 

Des Pearson AO Former Auditor-General Victoria talks on “Following the money – an insider’s view”.

The Auditor General can investigate matters concerning public service expenditure. However increasing use of Public Private Partnerships by State and Federal governments mean that in Victoria where legislation has not been amended, many transactions are protected from scrutiny by “commercial in confidence” rules and the fact that they transactions of private companies. This means that Auditors General cannot “follow the money”.  How much corrupt or fraudulent conduct may be kept from public investigation? Des Pearson will address this issue in his talk.

For a background to this issue, see this “Age” article written by four Auditor’s General of Victoria, John Doyle, who presently holds the position, and his three immediate predecessors, Des Pearson, Wayne Cameron and Ches Baragwanath. “Victoria’s outdated Audit Act needs urgent attention.”

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