Investigation finds NT ICAC gave 'unwelcome attention' to female staff
A workplace investigation has found the Northern Territory's former Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC), Michael Riches, breached his statutory obligations, including by giving "special and/or unwelcome attention to female employees".
Mr Riches resigned as ICAC earlier this month following an 11-month investigation into eight allegations made by 18 current and former staff in his office, with a redacted extract of the investigation report published on Monday afternoon.
Justicia Lawyers and Consultants partner Sarah Rey found five of the eight allegations were substantiated and concluded four of those constituted breaches of the NT public service code of conduct and Mr Riches' obligations under the Public Sector Employment and Management Act.
Ms Rey found the remaining three allegations were not substantiated.
The report's executive summary states three of the 18 interviewees "spoke positively" about Mr Riches' leadership, while also corroborating "conduct which was emblematic of the challenges in the office".
"For example, one of those staff stated that [Mr Riches] 'had a thing for pretty girls in the office'," it reads.
Ms Rey found the rest of the interviewees were "critical" of the former ICAC, with one telling her "something is off about his approach to female staff", while another described the office as "the most horrible place I've ever worked".
"Fifteen interviewees described [Mr Riches'] leadership style in words such as erratic, micromanaging, controlling, distrustful, awkward socially [and] disproportionate," the summary reads.
In his response to the allegations, the summary notes Mr Riches "rejected the descriptions" and "findings with respect to his leadership and engagement with staff".
"He submitted that the allegations were tenuous, emblematic of trivial workplace grievances and in some cases, too old to be investigated," it reads.
"He described the office as having been in disarray and a shambles for some years prior to his arrival."
The summary also notes Mr Riches provided 13 references from former colleagues from other workplaces which "presented a picture very different to the experiences relayed by the interviewees".
The references prompted Ms Rey to "carefully review her findings of credibility and motivations of those who brought complaints" but found "a consistency of themes" in the allegations, which supported the interviewees' account.
"If there had been one or two staff complaining, that might have been explained away as simply a possible personality conflict," the summary reads.
"However, 17 staff came forward of their own accord, and whilst a few might be dismissed on the basis that they had an axe to grind (or were motivated by bad faith or collusion), the investigator considers it unlikely that this could be said of all 17 people."
The other substantiated allegations included Mr Riches having "acted unreasonably" in giving some staff "preferential treatment"; "engaged in repeated and unreasonable behaviour"; and was "unreasonable and unfair in his treatment of staff during the abolition of the 'coffee club'".
Mr Riches had been on extended leave from his role since June last year when ICAC Inspector Bruce McClintock SC found he had not "improperly offered $20,000 to his former wife to suppress an allegation of domestic violence".
The latest findings come after Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro revealed her predecessor Eva Lawler had referred the workplace allegations to the Commissioner for Public Employment (CPE) shortly after Mr Riches took leave.
After receiving the CPE report, Ms Finocchiaro said she provided it to Mr McClintock for further investigation but Mr Riches resigned days later, rendering any further probe unnecessary.
On Monday, Public Service Minister Jo Hersey confirmed acting ICAC Greg Shanahan remained in the role.
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