Integrity Commission holds first press briefing in years after annual report

The Integrity Commission has given its first media briefing in years, seeking to explain findings in its annual report tabled in Parliament and answer criticism of how the agency works.

Officials faced questions on how long inquiries take, staff shortages and public views of the commission, against a backdrop of disputed investigation reports that drew sharp attention from parliamentarians.

On delay, the commission said complex files will always need more time, but simpler matters should move faster. The working target shared with staff is roughly six to 12 months, and nearer nine months where possible.

Shorter turnaround, officials added, depends on filling vacancies. The investigations division is operating at only 55 per cent of approved strength. Leaders described the strain of carrying about 11 live matters at once, some of them heavy and highly technical, and said the establishment must be filled if the workload is to be sustained.

Retention is already difficult. Executive director Craig Beresford said pay is the main barrier. Technical officers are now paid less competitively than before, he said, and the commission has asked the Ministry of Finance to revise its salary package but has received no reply. He asked why skilled applicants would choose the commission over similar public-service posts when the role also brings personal risk and online abuse.

That social-media criticism also includes claims that the agency is overly intrusive or seeks to damage parliamentarians’ standing. Officials rejected any suggestion that the commission or its divisions take steps to harm the reputation of public officials, saying that is not their work.

Another concern was the absence of a written rule requiring charges to be filed at once, or soon after a decision to charge. No such protocol exists now, the commission said, though work is under way to put one in place.

Looking ahead, the commission said it wants to hold a media briefing each year after its reports are tabled in Parliament.