Integrity Commission confirms it is assessing allegations into the conduct of the Hon Walter Sofronoff KC

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The ACT Integrity Commission has today confirmed it has received and is assessing corruption allegations regarding the conduct of the Hon Walter Sofronoff KC.

The assessments relate to disclosures made by the Hon Walter Sofronoff KC to media representatives during the course of the Board of Inquiry, the release of his report to media representatives before the report was released by the Chief Minister and communications with media that were disclosed in recent litigation in the Supreme Court of the ACT.

The Commission’s general policy is to neither confirm nor deny the referral or investigation of corruption allegations unless the circumstances are exceptional. Here, the issues are especially important, their subject matter has already been widely publicised and the need for the Integrity Commission to assess and, if necessary, investigate them is apparent. The recent litigation has now concluded. It is accordingly appropriate for this announcement to be made. No further public comment will be made whilst the assessment process is undertaken.

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No further public comment will be made whilst the assessment process is undertaken.

The Integrity Commissioner, the Hon Michael F Adams KC, elaborated on his decision, saying: “Given the extraordinary and ongoing public discourse about the conduct of the Board of Inquiry and the recent judgment in the Supreme Court in Drumgold v Board of Inquiry and Ors (No. 3), I have determined that it is in the public interest to disclose that the Commission is assessing whether the issues call for investigation. I see no reputational damage arising from this making this announcement, noting that it involves no adverse findings of any kind.

Further, an Acting Integrity Commissioner, Mr John McMillan AO, has been appointed to assess aspects of this matter. His appointment instrument can be found here.

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