NEWS - NSW Maritime responds to ICAC

NSW Maritime said it has received the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) report finding two current and one past employee of NSW Maritime's Legal Branch engaged in corrupt conduct.

NSW Maritime said its executive and staff are committed to corruption prevention and that it worked closely and co-operatively with the NSW anti-corruption body through the investigation, and will implement all the ICAC recommendations.

“An independent investigator has already been appointed to conduct disciplinary investigations into the actions of Tonette Kelly and Bonita Dacombe. The investigator has been asked to provide an urgent report on progress with the investigation,” said NSW Maritime in a press release.

According to an ABC News report, ICAC has recommended the DPP look into prosecuting Kelly for various offences including misconduct in public office. It reported that ICAC had investigated whether she had misused staff offices, phones and other facilities to run a personal legal practice that earned her $120,000 a year. ICAC also made corruption findings against NSW Maritime solicitor Bonnie Dacombe and her bother Nicolai Dacombe.

“The first six corruption-prevention recommendations are already being implemented, and the final and seventh recommendation relating to performance management has been accepted and will now be implemented,” it said.

Over the past year, NSW Maritime says it has been active in reviewing and improving corruption-prevention procedures, such as tightening numerous policies, procedures, and undertaking audits and reviews to prevent corruption.

NSW Maritime said it now has stringent processes in place for employees who wish to engage in secondary employment; and also tighter policies and processes for procurement, use of public resources, including materials, equipment, facilities and staff, and particularly working from home.

“A corruption prevention training program is being developed for staff to assist them to understand, identify and report on corruption, and to manage protected disclosures,” said NSW Maritime.
“Workshops for senior managers and the executive are to be run by the ICAC.” NSW Maritime said it has appointed a Corruption Prevention Manager to assist with this program.

NSW Maritime said the ICAC recommendations will add to the actions already taken to ensure the authority maintains the highest standards of public service.