ICAC Power !

Barry O'Farrell's resignation as state premier this week illustrates the enormous pressure to conform to personal standards of integrity for those in public life.   Few believe O'Farrell is corrupt.  His downfall revolved around something as simple as a bottle of wine:  a gift given amid the celebrations when he first gained the position of this state's forty-third premier.

During ICAC proceedings this $ 3,000 bottle of Penfolds Grange got a mention - and O'Farrell did not remember receiving it.   ICAC pressed the issue and O'Farrell became emphatic that neither he nor his wife remembered receiving such a gift.    Some think it was an " ambush " when a " thank you " note in O'Farrell's handwriting was later produced.   The premier accepted that he must have received that gift - and therefore he had misled ICAC - and promptly resigned as state premier.

Sadly, Barry O'Farrell was a successful premier who was fast taking this state out of the morass of mismanagement that has persisted for years.   He will remain in the parliament as a backbencher and there is every chance that after the next election, he may return as a minister.  It would be a tragedy if his management skills were lost to New South Wales.

It is encouraging that within hours the Treasurer, Mike Baird was voted into office as O'Farrell's replacement. There was no factional bunfight and this forty-six year old got the job unopposed.  He has a Stirling record from his past business life and his work as this state's Treasurer is widely admired.  There is every expectation that the forward momentum propelling NSW will continue.

This convulsion has thrown the spotlight on ICAC.   It has now unseated two state premiers and there is a question over it's use of public hearings to spring unconnected questions - which raises the speculation that these are " ambush " tactics.   Witnesses are put on the spot and required to provide an instant answer in circumstances that many would prefer to give consideration at length.    Once answered - if that answer is found to be incorrect - it leads to a charge of " misleading ICAC " - with dire consequences.

ICAC was put in place to root out corruption at the highest levels.   One of the reasons that many people fear ICAC is the fact that it's hearings take place in full view of the media.   In many cases, it is not the findings of ICAC that do the damage, it is the conjecture of commentators that analyse and create their findings that leads public opinion.   We curb the media at our peril.

Now may be a very good time for some soul searching.   ICAC brought down a good premier, and yet it failed to uncover truly breath-taking scandals over the issuing of coal extraction licenses and other serious misdeeds which took place undiscovered in previous years.    It is now looking at this corruption - long after the horse has bolted !

Perhaps now would be a good time - to look more closely at ICAC. !