The Finocchiaro CLP Government has tonight delivered a defining integrity reform for the Northern Territory, passing the Integrity and Ethics Commissioner Bill 2025 through Parliament.
This legislation fulfils the key recommendations of the independent McClintock-Hiley Review and represents a step toward restoring public trust, strengthening oversight and modernising the Territory's integrity architecture.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the reforms are designed to restore confidence in the Territory's integrity system and ensure it is better equipped to serve Territorians.
"The passage of this Bill shows, unequivocally, our commitment to the highest standards of integrity and to strengthening confidence in the accountability of government."
Under the reforms, a new Integrity and Ethics Commissioner will become the Territory's principal integrity officer, consolidating the functions of the ICAC, the Ombudsman, the Information Commissioner and the Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner.
This unified, independent office replaces a fragmented system that too often duplicated effort, created unnecessary cost and blurred responsibility.
Supporting the Commissioner will be a dedicated Office of the Integrity and Ethics Commissioner, led by a Chief Executive Officer to provide corporate, staffing and governance functions, ensuring the Commissioner can focus squarely on their statutory integrity responsibilities.
To further protect independence, an Integrity and Ethics Oversight Inspector will be appointed to scrutinise the Commissioner's conduct and manage any potential conflicts of interest, embedding rigorous checks and balances across the system.
"This is structural reform to support increased accountability," Mrs Finocchiaro said.
"All existing statutory powers are preserved. What we are doing is strengthening independence, eliminating duplication and ensuring a more efficient and transparent integrity system for Territorians."
A staged transition process will ensure continuity of service as the new model is implemented. A national recruitment process will now begin to secure a highly qualified inaugural Commissioner.
The framework also delivers improved administrative efficiency by establishing shared corporate services for integrity bodies. Importantly, the Auditor-General will remain fully independent and retain all statutory powers while benefiting from streamlined support.
"This is a nation-leading reform for a jurisdiction of our size, efficient, independent and built to last," Mrs Finocchiaro said.
"It strengthens the foundations of good government and ensures Territorians have the transparent, accountable system they deserve."
The full integrity framework is expected to become operational in the first half of 2026.
