Under the new threshold, corrupt conduct means anything that “adversely affects, or could adversely affect, directly or indirectly, the performance of functions or the exercise of powers of a unit of public administration, an individual person holding an appointment in a UPA, or results or could result...in the performance of functions or the exercise or powers mentioned...that is not honest or is not impartial, or involves a breach of trust.”

The misuse of information or material acquired or in connection with a public appointment, or the use of information for a personal benefit or detriment to another is also considered corruption that requires the attention of the CCC.

Anything below that threshold should be investigated by the government department or the Public Service Commission.

Acting CCC head Ken Levy who is still the subject of an investigation into whether he deliberately misled a parliamentary committee, said under the new legislation the “strategic role of the commission is to make sure that we do the most important things first”.

“If something is of higher priority then priority has to be given to more serious matters, which we have done recently but in the past the definition that required that something could amount to corrupt behaviour, the commission then, the test was so low, resources were spent doing all sorts of things which probably prevented an inadequate coverage of many more serious matters,” he said.