Riches, Mr M.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (15:15): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Attorney-General a question about former South Australian ICAC deputy commissioner Michael Riches.

Leave granted.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: Mr Riches resigned in disgrace last month as the Northern Territory's ICAC commissioner after a year-long investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour, including that he gave unwelcome attention to female office workers. The report described his leadership style as 'erratic, micromanaging, controlling, distrustful, awkward socially and disproportionate', with one staff member claiming Mr Riches 'had a thing for pretty girls in the office'. The investigation was launched after it was revealed Mr Riches had offered his estranged wife $20,000 to stop her domestic violence order application against him reaching court.

Prior to being appointed the Territory's ICAC commissioner in 2021, Mr Riches was ICAC's deputy commissioner here in South Australia for three years, after initially being appointed chief executive officer of the ICAC and the OPI in December 2016. During his tenure, Riches was an important member of the executive ICAC team. In his report into the John Hanlon fiasco, former ICAC inspector Philip Strickland gently described the egregious level of mismanagement at ICAC as 'systemic maladministration', without apportioning blame to any individuals. My questions to the Attorney-General are:

1. Can he come back to the chamber and answer whether there were any similar reports or allegations made about Mr Riches' behaviour while he was employed at ICAC? If so, when, and what was the extent of the allegations?

2. Were any similar reports made about Mr Riches' behaviour while he was a serving police officer? If so, when, and what was the extent of the allegations?

3. Did Northern Territory investigators conduct inquiries with South Australian authorities about any reports of inappropriate behaviour while he was a South Australian public servant?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector, Special Minister of State) (15:17): I thank the honourable member for his question and his very well-known interest in ICAC and how it operates. In relation to the individual the honourable member asked about, I note that the individual has not served in a role in South Australia, as I understand it, during the course of this government, so I am not aware of anything that has been raised. I may not be aware because I think it was 2021 when that individual last served a role in South Australia and, of course, the election was after that in March 2022. I guess I can answer it by saying: I am not aware of anything that has been raised.