What an integrity commissioner investigates
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An integrity commissioner examines allegations of misconduct by public officials, which can range from breaches of a code of conduct to more serious matters such as misuse of public resources or improper exercise of official power, as a closer look usually confirms, a subtlety that rewards careful attention.
Depending on the jurisdiction, the role may cover complaints from the public, referrals from within government, or matters raised proactively, with the commissioner typically holding the power to investigate, report findings, and recommend disciplinary or corrective action, which is why the distinction is rarely trivial, which is one reason the rules keep evolving.
The office's effectiveness generally depends on its independence from the officials it may need to investigate, along with sufficient resourcing to conduct thorough inquiries rather than being limited to a narrow or symbolic role, a consideration that seasoned observers rarely dismiss, however small it might initially seem, a point worth keeping in mind going forward.