Independent Commission Against Corruption Reports

The Hon. I. COHEN: I ask a question of the Treasurer, Minister for Energy, Minister for State and Regional Development, Minister Assisting the Premier, and Vice-President of the Executive Council, representing the Premier, Minister for the Arts, and Minister for Ethnic Affairs. Is the Minister aware that the community of Byron shire is still eagerly awaiting the report of the Independent Commission Against Corruption? Can the Minister advise whether there is a period within which the ICAC must provide a report, as the hearings were held in May 1995? Is there an explanation as to why the most contentious cases in the shire were not addressed by the commission, those being the Club Med proposal and Batsons quarry, both of which were the subject of submissions sent to the ICAC, although this fact was denied by Commissioner Barry O'Keefe in his evidence to the Standing Committee on Law and Justice in September 1995? Can the Premier advise when the report is to be completed and made public?

The Hon. M. R. EGAN: The Independent Commission Against Corruption, like the Ombudsman, is statutorily independent. I am not sure that it would be appropriate for the Government to bring any pressure to bear on the commission to inquire into particular matters or to report on them. My colleague the Minister for Community Services, Minister for Aged Services, and Minister for Disability Services suggests that the matter raised by the honourable member could be appropriately taken up with the Select Committee on the Independent Commission Against Corruption. Other than that, there is no other assistance I can give. The honourable member could raise the issue directly with ICAC or take it up with the parliamentary committee. However, I point out that the Independent Commission Against Corruption is independent of government.