By Staff Writer

The NSW Premier has unveiled the man to take the helm of the corruption watchdog after the tenure of the Hon. Jerrold Cripps comes to an end in November.

Premier Nathan Rees yesterday announced the Hon. David Ipp AO will be the Government’s nominee to become the next Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).

Ipp has a distinguished career serving as a judge of the NSW Court of Appeal and as a Supreme Court judge in Western Australia.

He served on both State and Commonwealth law committees and was recently the Chair of the NSW Supreme Court Education Committee and the Judicial Commission of NSW’s Standing Advisory Committee on Judicial Education

“Justice Ipp is a very highly regarded member of our judicial system and he will be an excellent candidate to follow the high standards set by Commissioner Cripps," Rees said.

“As the new Commissioner he will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge having been widely published and a teacher of law in Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom.”

ICAC has been responsible for some high profile investigations into conduct within public and private organisations including recent scandals at Woollongong City Council and Railcorp which unveiled systematic corruption in both organisations.

A panel was established consisting of the Directors General of key government agencies and the Chair of the Law Reform Commission the Hon James Wood AO to recommend a new Commissioner.

The nomination was endorsed by Cabinet and the Premier has written to the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the ICAC with the nomination.

Under the ICAC Act the parliamentary committee has up to 44 days to review the nomination.

The appointment is due to commence in November 2009 when Commissioner Cripps five-year term expires.