Update on the Independent Commission Against Corruption Award review
The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) Award review has been in progress since February 2025. It took several months for ICAC to get final approval from Public Sector Industrial Relations (PSIR) to commence the negotiations.
As of 8 October 2025, the key changes to the Award included:
- Higher duties: Reducing the number of working days from 11 to 5 to qualify for payment of higher duties
- Associate Allowance: Annualised to reflect payments over the 12-month financial period
- Flex Leave: Removed banked flex; increased carryover limit from 21 to 42 hours
- Model clause: Replaced existing provisions with standard clauses for:
- Domestic and Family Violence Leave
- Parental Leave
- Lactation Breaks
- Award Updates: References updated for legislative compliance and consistent terminology
- Policy References: Removed references to specific ICAC held policies
- Behaviour Standards: Updated to reflect values-based expectations.
Most of these proposed changes are not controversial
On 12 December 2025 a PSA members’ meeting occurred at the Commission’s Operations room to hear an update on the progress of negotiations around the proposed changes to the Award.
The PSA wrote to the Commission on 18 December to communicate members’ concerns and suggested amendments to the proposal.
On 29 January the PSA received the Commission’s revised position in relation to this proposal. There are two current issues that were unresolved:
Issue 1
“The Commission holds serious equity concerns about clause 26 Overtime allowance. Other roles receive the in-lieu overtime allowance because they routinely perform overtime hereas Forensic Accountants do not. ICAC’s view is paying the allowance without the underlying condition being met is inequitable and undermines those who do perform overtime. Under what the Commission is proposing, Forensic Accountants will increase in remuneration (regrading) and will still receive overtime payments if and when overtime is worked, consistent with other officers in the Award.”
Issue 7
“The Commission does not agree to replacing the Managing Excess Employees Policy 2011(clause 9) with the NSW Government Workforce Mobility Placement and Employee Transition Policy (November 2025). Instead, the Commission proposes to develop its own internal policy for managing excess employees.”
Subject to agreement with NSW Government Mobility and the PSA, this policy will include the option for employees who have been declared excess to participate in the Mobility process if they choose.
A members’ meeting occurred on Wednesday 11 February to discuss the revised proposal.
At the regular CCG (JCC) meeting which occurred on the 12 February, the PSA reported the members requests in relation to the outstanding issues. The Commission responded to the PSA with written advice and a revised draft agreement as to how issues 1 and 7 can be resolved.
On 19 February PSA members met via Microsoft Teams to consider the revised ICAC position. The PSA communicated these concerns about the Forensic Accountant role classification proposal and the Commission’s proposed changes to the Redundancy and Redeployment clause and policy.
On 25 February the Commission provided advice which in the Association’s view addresses the concerns raised by members. It is now the PSA recommendation to members that the current draft Award and the changes proposed be endorsed by members to enable for the Revised Award to be lodged with the NSW Industrial Relations Commission as a joint application by consent to enable the IRC to update and vary the Award. The PSA requests that member consider this proposal and respond via email by cob 24 March 2026, please quote case ID C10011702 and confirm YES you agree with the PSA recommendation.
Once the members’ feedback is confirmed the PSA will advise the Commission as to the outcome and next steps in relation to this matter. A members meeting is scheduled at the Commission on the 26 March at 12:00pm to report back to members a reminder meeting notice will follow.
PSA contacts
Greg Shaw Senior Industrial officer
United we bargain, divided we beg!