Anti-corruption bosses in chaos
06 June 2025
MARIAN FAA
| Extracts
Complete story here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-06/australians-from-icac-png-embroiled-in-chaos-police-complaints/105381984
PORT MORESBY - Papua New Guinea's peak anti-corruption body is on the brink of implosion as its three commissioners from Australia and New Zealand level criminal allegations at each other.
The country's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) began operating in 2023 but has been hamstrung by feverish leadership tensions.
Deputy commissioners Graham Gill and Daniel Baulch have accused commissioner Andrew Forbes of suspected corruption and abuse of power, alleging in a letter that he secretly manipulated ICAC legislation to give himself exclusive power over key agency functions.
Meanwhile, Mr Forbes has referred his deputies to police for alleged misconduct involving the authorisation of travel and accommodation costs.
An arrest warrant alleges Andrew Forbes abused the "authority of his office".
Several sources told the ABC almost all the agency's expatriate staff, including multiple Australians, are likely to resign, stripping the organisation of expertise needed to fight corruption.
They have described an environment of “chaos.”
One staff member, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the situation was "disgraceful" and the organisation had become "completely dysfunctional".
It comes at a crucial time, as Papua New Guinea fights desperately to avoid being grey-listed by an international anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing watchdog.
Kerenga Kua, an opposition MP and former head of the PNG law society, told the ABC the paralysation of ICAC was disappointing for PNG, which may lose more than a billion dollars to corruption each year.
"After many, many years of decay and decadence at the hands of white-collar crime … we were looking forward to a bigger, better and brighter future," Mr Kua said.
"The whole thing, the way it's been handled at the ICAC level and at the Appointments Committee level is truly regrettable."
When the ICAC was set up two years ago, there were high hopes it would mark a turning point for PNG in combating corruption.
The commissioners were selected by a group — chaired by PNG Prime Minister James Marape with representatives from the opposition, the judiciary, the Public Services Commission and churches — known as the Appointments Committee.
But things at PNG ICAC turned south when the agency began to investigate its own commissioner, Andrew Forbes, early last year.
"We reasonably suspect that the commissioner has engaged in a course of corrupt conduct," Mr Gill and Mr Baulch wrote in a letter to the Appointments Committee last July.
Despite the concerns, Transparency International's Peter Aitsi said the PNG public still had a strong belief in the value of ICAC.
"We need to work quickly to reset and restore that trust again," he said.
Thanks to spotter Paul Oates
Write on, Daniel. Rules of family and village were and are sufficient for social participation and coercion.
Still at play are the bounds and bonds of that entity due to celebrate fifty years. Fifty years is a worthy achievement.
Next road marker is the topic, termed and titled corruption, but at the day to day of each "reach of entitlement" or what is a simple grab of opportunity, a neighbour (near or far) is then to be deprived at a simple but deliberate and disrespectful imbalance of power.
Some are ensured by laws of State, but most are unjust, and day to day.
This human to human relationship is grown at childhood in all nations while in those nations yet venturing beyond quarrelsome (is that now also the USA?), at adult level, the participants arrive at a tolerance, likely also respect for other participants within the domain of the scope of nationhood.
Question is, for folk of PNG, the eruptions of each Sumbiripa (Mount Lamington) are easy to see, but at what level of discernment is the knowing of kinship that knits as Nation?
Posted by: Lindsay F Bond | 10 June 2025 at 09:29 AM
Thanks Daniel. Very erudite comments. Human nature is sometimes so predictable it almost seems like there is no escape from the dictates of our DNA.
This is however wrong. There are plenty of examples where corruption is resisted and those who choose not to partake are rewarded by the results.
The problem is always the selfish gene that demands: 'What's in it for me?'
With the demise of ethics and unselfish religious doctrines, the almighty power of the new religion called 'Sport' has taken over. Winning at all costs seems like a good idea until you are on the losing side.
The template that Australia left behind is still there. All it takes is the 'guts, gumption and get up and go' to reintroduce it without any personal rewards attached.
Posted by: Paul Oates | 10 June 2025 at 08:53 AM
Member for Wabag, Dr Lino Jeremiah Tom described PNG as the land or ironies on social media.
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PNG A NATION OF IRONIES
As they say, you know you’re in PNG when the Fire-Station is on fire. Then again, You know you’re in PNG when the house that represents the Sovereign Power of the land goes out of power! Again, You know you’re in PNG when the organization tasked to fight corruption is accused of corruption itself and when the nation that proclaims itself Christian is very unchristian in its conduct! Sadly, we’ve become a nation of ironies!
I mean even dogs cross over right on the pedestrian crossings whilst human beings scurry all over the roads like animals in this nation.
When an organization tasked with the sacred duty of fighting corruption is accused of corruption, Sir Mek’s assertion is vindicated once again that Corruption is both Systemic and Systematic in this nation. The Judiciary despite all else and apart from God himself, remains our last bastion of Hope for a nation fast falling into an abyss of corruption and hopelessness.
“Quid pro quo” has become the new normal. Nothing gets done even in paid jobs without some sort of incentives. Our society has become sick and delirious. It will require more than a revolution to wake us up from our slumber, rouse our national consciousness and galvanize us in the right direction to restore hope in our nation and its ailing future.
Posted by: Daniel kumbon | 08 June 2025 at 03:33 PM
The article appeared at the same time as another where they have discovered some big hairy rats live in PNG.
Not sure there was any connection..... but I did wonder.....about these extra large rats apparently being this side of the Wallace Line.
Posted by: Paul Oates | 06 June 2025 at 03:40 PM
Peter Dutton's looking for a job
Posted by: Bernard Corden | 06 June 2025 at 02:53 PM