Anti-corruption commissioner appointment to be extended
8 February 2012
Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Justice Jason Clare today announced the Government would move to allow the term of any Law Enforcement Integrity Commissioner to be extended for two years.
Currently, the Integrity Commissioner has a fixed term of five years and there is no legislative ability to extend it.
The Law Enforcement Integrity Commissioner Act 2006 will be amended to allow the Government to extend the Commissioner’s term by another two years.
This implements a recommendation of the Parliamentary Joint Committee into the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity (ACLEI).
The role of ACLEI is to detect, disrupt and deter potential corruption in Federal law enforcement agencies including:
- The Australian Crime Commission;
- The Australian Federal Police;
- The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service; and
- The former National Crime Authority.
“This amendment provides flexibility for a situation where ACLEI is undergoing extensive change, or where there is an ongoing, serious investigation,” Mr Clare said.
The current Integrity Commissioner is Mr Philip Moss.
He was appointed in July 2007 and his five-year term is due to expire in July this year.
“Last year ACLEI’s role was expanded to cover oversight of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service,” Mr Clare said.
“The amendment will help ensure ACLEI’s new responsibility is fully and properly implemented and where corruption is found it is weeded out.
“Our law enforcement officers are responsible for keeping Australians secure and the overwhelming majority do that job very well.
“The very nature of the work they do makes them a target for criminals wanting to avoid the law.
“ACLEI is there to make sure that if someone does something corrupt – they get caught.
“I am determined to ensure that ACLEI has the tools it needs to tackle potential corruption in Federal law enforcement agencies.”
Media contact: Korena Flanagan