This fortnight's edition sees further findings of corruption from the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) against NSW former Minister for Mineral Resources Ian Macdonald. The Commission found that Mr Macdonald acted contrary to his duty as a Minister in allowing an exploration licence to be granted without the knowledge, or involvement, of the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and despite DPI's previous clear opposition. A busy fortnight for ICAC has also seen the publication of a report on corrupt behaviour relating to IT contracts for government agencies. The paper aims to help minimise the corruption risks involved in managing IT contractors, which was sparked by last year's corruption inquiry into a former UTS employee for giving IT contracts to a company he part owned.
Upcoming Events
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- 29 October for a seminar on NSW Government Agencies as Model Litigants, presented by Christine Jones. Click here for more information and to register.
- 12 November for a seminar on Statutory Interpretation: developments and recent case law, presented by Greg Wrobel. Click here for more information and to register.
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In the media
Legal lessons from the Queensland Health Payroll System
Commission Report
Holding Redlich partner, Michael Grosser writes for Government
News on the Queensland Government's procurement practices. It
particularly relates to the increasing acceptance of the role of
probity since 2007 when the Queensland Government commenced the
procurement activity for the Queensland Health Payroll System. This
practice ensures that parties act ethically and conflicts of
interest are mitigated.
More
Corruption watchdog releases tips on IT
contractors
The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has
published a paper for government agencies to help minimise the
corruption risks involved in managing IT contractors.
More
NSW Police Association says court ruling in Errol Baff
case confirms officers' right to silence
The NSW Police Association has welcomed a court ruling that
allowed a policeman to avoid answering questions about the shooting
of a woman on the state's mid-north coast (01 September 2013).
More
ICAC finds corrupt conduct in relation to Doyles Creek
coal exploration licence
The ICAC has made corrupt conduct findings against former NSW
minister for mineral resources Ian Macdonald in relation to the
granting of consent to apply for a coal exploration licence (EL),
and the granting of an EL, to Doyles Creek Mining Pty Ltd (30
August 2013).
More
Community work cuts re offences: NSW
report
Making criminals do community work is more effective at stopping
reoffending than good behaviour bonds, NSW's top crime
statistician has found, according to the Bureau of Crime Statistics
and Research (BOCSAR) released figures (27 August 2013).
More
UM wins NSW government media buying account from
Mediacom
NSW government logoMedia agency UM has won the $60m media buying
account for the NSW government which was previously held by
Mediacom (28 August 2013).
More
Another public servant to be sacked over social
media
Another federal public servant is set to be sacked over his online
activity as the bureaucracy's troubles with social media mount.
Mr Morris's case is believed to be the first in which a public
servant has been stood down and threatened with dismissal for being
involved in such a site (22 August 2013).
More
ICAC identifies ways to minimise corruption in IT
contracts
The ICAC has identified five key levers that need to be managed in
order for government agencies to minimise the corruption risks
involved in managing information technology (IT) contractors (21
August 2013).
More
In practice and courts
Operation Cavill public inquiry to resume 20 September 2013
The ICAC will resume its Operation Cavill public inquiry concerning allegations involving City of Ryde Mayor Councillor Ivan Petch, and others, on Friday 20 September 2013 at 10:00 am (30 August 2013. More
Call for papers: Assisting Unrepresented Litigants – a Challenge for Judicial Administration
The Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration (AIJA) conference will be held 15-17 April 2014, G Coogee Beach. Those submitting abstracts or panel proposals will be advised whether their paper/panel has been accepted as soon as possible. Those presenting papers will be required to register for the conference. More
National Consultations 2013
End of October 2013 - Closing date for comments on the Productivity Commission's Inquiry into Access to Justice Services
Published – articles, papers, reports
Coal and gas mining in Australia: opportunities for national law reform
Author: The Australia Institute (TAI)
The purpose of this report is to identify existing Commonwealth law and policy relevant to the regulation of coal mining and unconventional gas exploration and production in Australia (21 August 2013). More
Community Service Orders and Bonds: A comparison of reoffending
Lucy Snowball & Lorana Bartels, NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research
The results showed that offenders given a CSO are less likely to re-offend than adult offenders given a bond. In the median case, the 24 month reconviction rates were 17.3 per cent (CSOs) and 19.8 per cent (bonds) (August 2013). More
Operation Acacia Investigation Report
Author: ICAC
An investigation into the conduct of Ian MacDonald, John Maitland and others (August 2013)
Operation Acacia Investigation Report
Managing IT contractors, improving IT outcomes
Author: ICAC
ICAC canvasses the unique pitfalls that public sector managers who do not possess IT knowledge and expertise may face when dealing with contractors engaged to undertake specialist IT work for government agencies (August 2013)
Managing IT contractors, improving IT outcomes (August 2013)
Cases
Baff v New South Wales Commissioner of Police [2013] NSWSC 1205
EVIDENCE- privilege against self incrimination- distinct from
privilege against exposure to civil penalties- not abrogated by
Police Act 1990 or Police Regulations 2008
STATUTORY INTERPRETATION- exclusion of basic rights requires
irresistible clearness. More
Crowe and Department of the Treasury [2013] AICmr 69
Freedom of information — incoming government brief prepared for party that was unable to form government — deliberative matter — deliberative processes — Freedom of Information Act 1982(CTH) s 47C
Freedom of information — incoming government brief prepared for party that was unable to form government — certain operations of an agency — whether disclosure could reasonably be expected to have a substantial adverse effect on the operations of an agency — Freedom of Information Act 1982(CTH) s 47E. More
Sweeney and Australian Prudential Regulation Authority [2013] AICmr 67
Freedom of information — Documents to which secrecy provisions of enactments apply — (CTH) Freedom of Information Act 1982 s 38 — (CTH) Australian Prudential Regulation Authority Act 1998 s 56 — (CTH) Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 s 3. More
Hunt and Australian Federal Police [2013] AICmr 66
Freedom of Information — Disclosure of confidential source of information — Prejudice to lawful methods or procedures — (CTH) Freedom of Information Act 1982 ss 37(1)(b), 37(2)(b)
Freedom of Information — Deliberative processes — Certain operations of agencies — Personal privacy exemption — Whether contrary to public interest to release conditionally exempt documents — (CTH) Freedom of Information Act 1982 ss 11A(5), 47C, 47E, 47F. More
Besser and Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs [2013] AICmr 65
Freedom of information — Request for access to documents — Whether giving access would disclose information that would reasonably be regarded as irrelevant to the request — Whether documents subject to legal professional privilege — Whether disclosure would prejudice attainment of objects of audits — Whether disclosure would have a substantial adverse effect on the proper and efficient conduct of the operations of an agency — Whether disclosure of personal information unreasonable — Whether disclosure would unreasonably affect organisation's business affairs — Whether contrary to public interest to release conditionally exempt documents — (CTH) Freedom of Information Act 1982 ss 11A(5), 22, 42, 47E, 47F. More
'AK' and Department of Finance and Deregulation [2013] AICmr 64
Freedom of information — Public interest conditional exemption – Personal privacy — Whether documents contain personal information – Whether disclosure would be unreasonable — Whether disclosure would be contrary to public interest — (CTH) Freedom of Information Act 1982 ss 4(1), 11A(5), 11B, 47F. More
Gray t/as Clarence Valley Plumbing Services v Ware Building Pty Ltd [2013] NSWCA 271
APPEAL AND NEW TRIAL - procedural fairness - where request for adjournment and transfer of trial to another location refused - where defendant (now appellant) did not attend - whether violation of the hearing rule established
EVIDENCE - where evidence adduced ex-parte - where evidence is comprised of hearsay - whether evidence should be given less weight. More
Molyneux and Vermeesch v Chief Commissioner of State Revenue (RD) (No 2) [2013] NSWADTAP 41
Duties - reassessment - power to reassess - legal interpretations and assessment practices of Chief Commissioner - delay by Chief Commissioner - market rate component of interest - whether decision was a final decision - leave to extend appeal to merits
Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Cth)
Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth)
Administrative Decisions Tribunal Act 1997 (NSW)
Legislation
NSW
Bills introduced
The object of this Bill is to amend the Crimes Act 1900 to extend the date until which membership of a terrorist organisation is an offence under the Act from 13 September 2013 to 13 September 2016.
Crimes Amendment (Terrorism) Bill 2013
The object of this Bill is to amend the Crimes Act 1900 to recognise the separate existence of the foetus of a pregnant woman that is of at least 20 weeks' gestation (as a living person) so that proceedings for certain offences relating to grievous bodily harm may be brought against an offender who causes the unlawful destruction of or harm to any foetus..
Crimes Amendment (Zoe's Law) Bill 2013 (No 2)
Proclamations commencing Acts
The object of this Proclamation is to commence a provision relating to guidelines with respect to the negotiation of the terms of agreements relating to the making of consent orders under the Criminal Assets Recovery Act 1990.
Crime Commission Act 2012 No 66 (2013-443) — published LW 23 August 2013
An Act to amend the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 in relation to mandatory pre-trial
defence disclosure in indictable proceedings; and for other purposes.
Criminal Procedure Amendment (Mandatory Pre-trial Defence Disclosure) Act 2013 No 10
(2013-444) — published LW 23 August 2013
An Act to amend the Evidence Act 1995 with respect to inferences that may be drawn from the silence during official questioning of persons accused of serious indictable offences
Evidence Amendment (Evidence of Silence) Act 2013 No 9 (2013-446) — published LW 23 August 2013
Other events
The Statutory and Other Offices Remuneration (Judicial and Other Office Holders) Amendment Regulation 2013 (427) as published on the NSW legislation website on 9 August 2013 was disallowed by the Legislative Council on 22 August 2013.
NSW legislation online www.legislation.nsw.gov.au
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