Baird to speak to ICAC commissioner

NSW Premier Mike Baird says ICAC's High Court defeat requires "cool heads" and consultation before his government responds.

Margaret Cunneen SC

(AAP) Source: AAP

NSW Premier Mike Baird is waiting to speak to the ICAC commissioner before his government formulates a response to the corruption watchdog's High Court defeat.

Australia's highest court ruled last week on a 4-1 majority the ICAC was unable to continue its controversial investigation into senior prosecutor Margaret Cunneen.

"We have a strong ICAC, we continue to have a strong ICAC, but clearly we need to consider the implications of this High Court decision and we will do that," Mr Baird said.

"It's clear with the High Court challenge and the outcome we need to consider both the events, the circumstances of that and where we go from here."

Mr Baird said he expects to speak to Commissioner Megan Latham early next week before discussing the matter with cabinet.

The ICAC accused Ms Cunneen of perverting the course of justice by advising her son's girlfriend, Sophia Tilley, to fake chest pains at a car crash scene in May 2014 to avoid being breath tested.

The High Court's decision was a major blow to the corruption watchdog which took five days to publicly respond to the humbling defeat.

The body has put pressure on the state government to amend the ICAC Act "as a matter of priority" in relation to the definition of "official misconduct", and for the changes to be applied retrospectively.

The ICAC says it will be unable to report on several current operations after the High Court ruled its allegations against Ms Cunneen did not amount to corrupt conduct and the watchdog had no power to investigate her.


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Source: AAP


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