NT ICAC says its work will be impacted by a recently-announced funding cut. 

NT’s Office of the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption has been allocated $5.4 million for the upcoming financial year, a cut of $1.3 million from the previous year.

ICAC boss Michael Riches says the funding reduction comes while ICAC is attempting to wrangle with 14 significant investigations and a number of other preliminary enquiries.

The office is attempting to defend five Supreme Court cases brought against Mr Riches’ predecessor, having to spend $150,000 on external lawyers for one of the cases so far.

Mr Riches says the government rejected his budget allocation submission.

“I am of course disappointed that that is the case,” Mr Riches said.

“The significant reduction from this year's budget will of course impact the discharge of my statutory functions.”

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said the ICAC could apply for an advance if it needs. 

“The nature of the work that these types of investigative bodies undertake, does, from time to time, see the need for more expenditure, and we certainly support having an ICAC in the Territory,” Ms Fyles told the hearing.

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said the budget cut “doesn't pass the pub test”.

“What you have is the government of the day, who are undoubtedly under investigation, then cutting 20 per cent of the budget, knowing that that then impacts service delivery and the ability of the ICAC to undertake those investigations,” Ms Finocchiaro said.

Mr Riches also said that legislative restrictions had stopped him from being able to investigate an allegation that cabinet had been misled.

“It's a matter that in my view was quite a serious matter,” he said.

“It related to an allegation of misleading cabinet.”

He said the ICAC Act does not allow him to investigate documents given to the decision-making body.

“Because I've not been able to access the Cabinet documents themselves, I simply cannot progress with the investigation because the Cabinet documents themselves are key to the investigation,” Mr Riches said.

More comments about the legislative restrictions are expected to revealed in a general report Mr Riches will provide to the Parliament soon.