New Icac powers spark concerns as NSW opposition flags move to stop ‘reckless’ change

The NSW Liberal leader Mark Speakman says the new powers handed to Icac by the Minns government should been subjected to the ‘proper scrutiny’ of parliament. Photograph: Jane Dempster/AAP

Special powers handed to the New South Wales corruption watchdog to use illegally obtained recordings have been described as “concerning”, with the opposition and members of the crossbench vowing to try to stop them from proceeding.

The government granted the powers to the Independent Commission Against Corruption on Wednesday to assist it with an ongoing investigation in response to a request from its chief commissioner, John Hatzistergos.