ACT taxpayers left with $5.5m legal bill for officials later found corrupt
ACT spent $5.5m on officials' legal bills. The government cannot recover these costs after corruption findings.
About $2.8m of the $5.5m was spent on legal bills related to Integrity Commission matters. The ACT government says there is no legal way to recover these fees under the existing system once they are paid.
Two high-profile cases involved former Education Directorate director-general Katy Haire and former CIT chief executive Leanne Cover. Katy Haire and Leanne Cover were both later found to have engaged in serious corrupt conduct.
Leanne Cover was ordered to pay 85 per cent of the commission's legal costs after losing court proceedings. That was a court order, not a government system to recover costs.
The Canberra Liberals are now calling for changes to the law. They want to allow cost recovery when serious misconduct or corrupt conduct is established.
- $5.5 million over five years to June 2024
- Total legal assistance spending
- $2.8 million
- Integrity Commission matters
- 85 per cent of commission's legal costs
- Leanne Cover's ordered payment
Why it mattersTaxpayers pay for the legal defence of officials. Some of these officials are later found to be corrupt. Closing this loophole could recover public money and reinforce accountability.
AustraliaAustralian Capital Territory residents are footing the bill for legal assistance to their own officials in cases where those officials face investigations and may later be found to have broken the law.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 h ago
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