The Independent Commissioner Against Corruption has uncovered a pattern of ‘wrongdoing and bribery’ in South Australia’s Driver Training Industry.
Tabling her Report, Failing the Corruption Road Test: Corruption Risks in South Australia’s Driver Training Industry, Commissioner Ann Vanstone said it was prompted by an examination of more than 40 complaints and reports assessed or investigated by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).
“The matters revealed a number of problems in the industry, including the failure of some authorised driving examiners to fulfil all requirements during a test or assessment, and inappropriately issuing certificates of competency,” Commissioner Vanstone said.
“It was also clear there have been instances of bribery and other improper conduct in the industry,” she said.
“There is a pattern of behaviour that suggest the controls in place to prevent corruption in the driver licensing industry may not be adequate.”
She said it was likely there were lessons about managing corruption risks in the Report for other Agencies with licensing and regulatory functions.
Commissioner Vanstone made nine recommendations for improving the integrity of the industry, including setting a price guide for driving lessons and tests and prohibiting package deal pricing for driving lessons and tests.
She also recommended that authorised examiners provide a record of prices charged for lessons and tests in their monthly returns; that students be provided with information as to what they should reasonably expect from motor driving instructors and authorised examiners; and current systems and processes for recording information in respect of authorised examiners be reviewed.
Commissioner Vanstone used the Report to highlight issues with recently passed ICAC legislation which she said limited her access to complaints made by the public.
The Commissioner’s 29-page Report can be accessed at this PS News link.
