A leading Sydney barrister has suggested the Independent Commission Against Corruption could be given powers to investigate private citizens who seek to mislead public servants, but only in cases of serious misconduct.

Phillip Boulten, SC, said doing so would allow ICAC to investigate "widespread, institutionalised private sector corruption" while remaining true to the purpose for which it was established.

Phillip Boulten, SC says the ICAC could be given powers to investigate private citizens who deliberately mislead public servants. Credit:Brock Perks

In a speech honouring the late NSW Labor attorney-general Jeff Shaw on Thursday night hosted by Unions NSW, Mr Boulten also expressed support for a federal anti-corruption agency similar to ICAC.

"It is naive to think that there is no serious or systemic corruption in Commonwealth contracting and provisioning spheres," he said.