Contractors Terry and Warwick Howarth, whose company was left...

Contractors Terry and Warwick Howarth, whose company was left devastated by the NSW government’s expropriation of NuCoal’s exploration licence. Picture: James Croucher

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So far, the collateral damage inflicted on the innocent has been given insufficient attention by those who are clamouring for a federal equivalent of the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption.

That needs to change.

The NSW experience should be closely examined to ensure the commonwealth does not follow this state’s example by adopting a system that has undermined property rights and the rule of law.

Most of those calling for a federal ICAC are almost certainly well-meaning. So before prosecuting their case any further, people of good will need to carefully consider the ICAC-related damage the state of NSW has inflicted on Warwick and Terry Howarth.

This couple has never been accused of wrongdoing. Yet the Coalition government of NSW, in the grip of an ICAC-related frenzy, passed a law that destroyed their business.

This couple had nothing to do with ICAC. Their company, Howarth Drilling, had a successful 30-year history of exploration and had business links in Australia, the US and China.