There was a hint of trouble in the air some months ago when the Independent Commission against Corruption ( ICAC ) raided the Wollongong town hall and seized documents and the hard drives of corporate computers. An uneasy silence followed.
Yesterday that silence was broken when it was revealed that an investigation is under way into allegations that a thirty thousand dollar bribe was offered to a corporate officer - or a corporate officer tried to solicit a thirty thousand dollar bribe - depending upon which side of the story is offered.
There is an old saying " that there is no smoke without fire " - and whatever the truth of the matter - sleaze will stick and the once pristine reputation of local government in Wollongong will be tainted.
Unfortunately such a suggestion was inevitable sooner or later, given the fabulous wealth to be gained by getting approval for developments in a fast growing city. There are many parts of the world where graft and corruption are a way of life and a sleaze factor has to be fitted into any business deal.
Corruption has a way of ascending from the level of a counter clerk who is slipped a few dollars to rubber stamp a document all the way to the houses of parliament where politicians obtain a " consideration " for voting in a certain way.
That is where ICAC comes in. It is beyond political sway - and in the past has pushed ahead with investigations that led to the resignation from office of a state premier - so if there has been wrongdoing in this city those involved have every reason to be shivering in their boots.
The best defence against corruption remains an independent investigative body - and a free press to report the outcome !
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