The CCC is an independent investigative commission that reports directly to the Parliament of Western Australia.

The Parliamentary Inspector of the CCC has functions which include the power to audit the operation of the Corruption, Crime and Misconduct Act 2003 and the CCC's operations and to deal with misconduct by CCC officers.

The CCC is overseen by the Joint Standing Committee on the Corruption and Crime Commission (JSCCCC), which is a Parliamentary Committee. The JSCCCC is assisted by the Parliamentary Inspector.

The CCC was established on 1 January 2004 as a permanent investigative Commission with the same powers as a Royal Commission. It was set up to help public authorities minimise and manage misconduct, and in doing so, improve the integrity of the public sector. In addition, the CCC assists the WA Police Force to combat organised crime by authorising the use of investigative powers not ordinarily available to them. The CCC has jurisdiction over Western Australian public officers in the WA Police Force, government departments, government instrumentalities, boards, universities and local governments. The proclamation of the Corruption, Crime and Misconduct Act 2003 on 1 July 2015 focusses the CCC's efforts on dealing with serious misconduct and corruption. It invests its efforts in areas where the risk of serious misconduct and corruption is greatest and where its resources are needed most.

All reports are treated confidentially. However, if the matter is referred for investigation details about the person making the report and the information in a report will likely be forwarded to the applicable public sector authority.

The Corruption, Crime and Misconduct Act 2003 does not prevent you from telling anyone that a report has been lodged. However, discussing the details of a report should be considered carefully as this may compromise any future investigation or may affect the reputation of the public officer.

The term public officer is defined in section 3 of the Corruption, Crime and Misconduct Act 2003 by reference to the definition in section 1 of The Criminal Code ("the Code"). Public officers include state government employees, police officers and employees, members of government boards or committees, members of parliament, local government elected members and employees, all employees of public universities, employees of government trading enterprises and some volunteers.

Section 1 of the Code states that: The term public officer means any of the following — (a) a police officer; (aa) a Minister of the Crown; (ab) a Parliamentary Secretary appointed under section 44A of the "Constitution Acts Amendment Act 1899"; (ac) a member of either House of Parliament; (ad) a person exercising authority under a written law; (b) a person authorised under a written law to execute or serve any process of a court or tribunal; (c) a public service officer or employee within the meaning of the "Public Sector Management Act 1994"; (ca) a person who holds a permit to do high-level security work as defined in the "Court Security and Custodial Services Act 1999"; (cb) a person who holds a permit to do high-level security work as defined in the "Prisons Act 1981"; (d) a member, officer or employee of any authority, board, corporation, commission, local government, council of a local government, council or committee or similar body established under a written law; [or] (e) any other person holding office under, or employed by, the State of Western Australia, whether for remuneration or not

The CCC has responsibility for assessing all reports of serious misconduct within the public sector and ensuring that they are appropriately dealt with either by the CCC or another public authority. Our assessment process determines what action should be taken. Find out how we assess the allegations we receive here.

Section 4 of the Corruption, Crime and Misconduct Act 2003 (CCM Act) defines misconduct. Misconduct generally occurs when a public officer abuses authority for personal gain, causes detriment to another person or acts contrary to the public interest.

Misconduct is characterised in the CCM Act as "serious misconduct" and "minor misconduct". Serious misconduct is dealt with by the CCC and minor misconduct is dealt with by the Public Sector Commission (PSC).

The CCM Act defines serious misconduct differently for the WA Police Force than for other public officers. For members of the WA Police Force, all types of misconduct described in section 4 of the CCM Act, and additional conduct described as "reviewable police action", are called "police misconduct". The CCM Act includes police misconduct in its definition of serious misconduct. The effect of this is that the CCC will deal with all allegations of misconduct relating to the WA Police Force. For other public officers serious misconduct refers only to corrupt or criminal conduct described in sections 4(a), (b) and (c) of the CCM Act, which occurs when a public officer:

• acts corruptly or corruptly fails to act in the course of their duties; or
• corruptly takes advantage of their position for the benefit or detriment of any person; or
• commits an offence which carries a penalty of 2 or more years imprisonment. Corrupt conduct tends to show a deliberate intent for an improper purpose and motivation and may involve misconduct such as: the deliberate failure to perform the functions of office properly; the exercise of a power or duty for an improper purpose; or dishonesty. Some examples of corrupt or criminal conduct which could be serious misconduct include:
• abuse of public office;
• blackmail;
• bribery, including bribery in relation to an election;
• deliberately releasing confidential information;
• extortion;
• obtaining or offering a secret commission;
• fraud or stealing;
• forgery;
• perverting the course of justice;
• an offence relating to an electoral donation; 2
• loss of revenue of the State by Tax evasion; and
• falsification of records.

Matters of low-level discipline, misbehaviour or employee relations issues which may be managed by employing authorities are outside the definition of misconduct under the Corruption, Crime and Misconduct Act 2003. Examples could include general human resources and performance management issues, grievances around employee relationships, and minor infractions of policies and procedures.

Minor misconduct for public officers other than the WA Police Force is defined in section 4(d) of the Corruption, Crime and Misconduct Act 2003. Minor misconduct should be significant enough that it could reasonably lead to termination of a public officer's employment if proved. Minor misconduct occurs if a public officer engages in conduct that:

• adversely affects the honest or impartial performance of the functions of a public authority or public officer, whether or not the public officer was acting in their public officer capacity at the time of engaging in the conduct;
• involves the performance of functions in a manner that is not honest or impartial;
• involves a breach of the trust placed in the public officer; or
• involves the misuse of information or material that is in connection with their functions as a public officer, whether the misuse is for the benefit of the public officer or the benefit or detriment of another person; and
• constitutes, or could constitute, a disciplinary offence providing reasonable grounds for termination of a person’s office or employment.

The CCC and the PSC are responsible for preventing and dealing effectively and appropriately with misconduct in the Western Australian public sector. The CCC deals with allegations concerning serious misconduct. Reports that involve minor misconduct are dealt with by the PSC. If a report contains information that alleges both serious and minor misconduct, the report should be made to the CCC. For more information about reporting minor misconduct to the PSC, refer to the PSC Website or contact the

You can find more information here.

The Office of the Parliamentary Inspector of the Corruption and Crime Commission assesses and investigates complaints about the actions and decisions of the CCC. You can make a complaint about the CCC to the Parliamentary Inspector here.

Minor misconduct should be significant enough that it could reasonably lead to termination of a public officer's employment.

Minor misconduct, as defined by section 4(d) of the Corruption, Crime and Misconduct Act 2003, occurs if a public officer engages in conduct that:

• adversely affects the honest or impartial performance of the functions of a public authority or public officer, whether or not the public officer was acting in their public officer capacity at the time of engaging in the conduct; or
• involves the performance of functions in a manner that is not honest or impartial; or
• involves a breach of the trust placed in the public officer; or
• involves the misuse of information or material that is in connection with their functions as a public officer, whether the misuse is for the benefit of the public officer or the benefit or detriment of another person; and
• constitutes, or could constitute, a disciplinary offence providing reasonable grounds for termination of a person’s office or employment.

For more information or assistance about minor misconduct, please contact the Public Sector Commission.

The CCC has a general policy of not informing the public or media of what investigations it is undertaking or details of investigations.

Find out why the CCC doesn't confirm or deny what it is working on here.

No. It is an offence to report that a private hearing is to be held or has been held, to name witnesses who appeared at a private examination or any details of the evidence given.

Media outlets and CCC subscribers will receive an alert before a public examination starts. The CCC will also announce and livestream a public examination on its website.

To make sure you know if there is a public examination, subscribe to our mailing list.

You report should include:

• details of the public officer(s) who may be involved or who are aware of the matter including their names, positions and contact details;
• details of the conduct and why it is suspected that it may be serious misconduct;
• a brief description of the events including dates, times and location;
• if relevant, the approximate values of goods or amounts of money that may be involved;
• any harm, risk, danger or injury to any person related to the conduct; and
• any evidence that supports the report, including the details of witnesses, any documents, emails and other materials.

A report may be made anonymously, but this makes it difficult to assess and the CCC would be unable to contact you if it needs more information.