The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and the Office for Public Integrity (OPI) are standalone, independent bodies established under the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 2012 (SA) (ICAC Act).

The OPI receives and assesses complaints about public administration from members of the public. The OPI also receives and assesses reports about corruption, misconduct and maladministration in public administration from inquiry agencies, public authorities and public officers.

The OPI manages complaints about public administration with a view to identifying corruption, misconduct and maladministration in public administration and ensuring that complaints about public administration are dealt with by the most appropriate person or body [s 3(1)].

For information about complaints to the South Australian Ombudsman see the South Australian Ombudsman page.

Inquiry agencies, public authorities and public officers (including public sector and local government employees, police officers and contractors) have an obligation to report matters that they reasonably suspect involve corruption in public administration to the OPI, unless an exemption applies [see s 18B and OPI Directions and Guidelines]. It is an offence to prevent someone from making a complaint or report [s 18C]. It is also an offence to knowingly make a false or misleading statement in a complaint or report [s 18D].

Relevant Definitions

Corruption in public administration is defined in section 5 of the ICAC Act as conduct of a public officer (in their capacity as a public officer) that amounts to certain criminal offences under the Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935 (SA) which relate to public officers, together with offences against the Public Sector (Honesty and Accountability) Act 1995 (SA), the Public Corporations Act 1993 (SA) and the Lobbyists Act 2015 (SA). This includes abuse of public office, bribery of a public officer, and breaching the duty of all public sector employees to act honestly at all times in the performance of their duties, whether within or outside of South Australia. Corruption in public administration also includes aiding, abetting, inducing, conspiring, or being party to the commission of these criminal offences.

Misconduct and maladministration in public administration are defined in section 4 of the Ombudsman Act 1972 (SA). For more information, see the South Australian Ombudsman page.

To learn more visit the ICAC website or the OPI website.