The National Anti-Corruption Commission was meant to help restore public trust in politics, but the Commission itself has been affected by issues in the years since it launched. This week the inaugural commissioner Paul Brereton resigned, and by Friday, Attorney-General Michelle Rowland had conceded the need for a reset to restore faith in the institution.
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TRANSCRIPT:
The National Anti-Corruption Commission was meant to help restore public trust in politics, but the watchdog itself has been plagued by issues in the years since it launched.
On Monday, inaugural commissioner Paul Brereton resigned, and by Friday, Attorney-General Michelle Rowland had conceded the need for a reset to restore faith in the institution.
The Albanese Government came to power promising to restore integrity to federal politics - and establishing a National Anti-corruption Commission was a key plank in this policy platform.
But in the three years since the NACC began it has been marked by issues culminating in the resignation of its inaugural Commissioner, Paul Brereton, on Monday - 25 May.
He appeared before senate estimates the following day.
"I have become a distraction every time the chief executive officer comes up here, he has to answer questions about me. The press attention is focused on me and my interests, that is the need to defend that has become a distraction, and that is basically why I have decided that it is in the interests of the organisation that I remove that distraction."
The former New South Wales judge with longstanding ties to defence will finish up in July, two years short of his five-year term.
He was asked by Greens Senator David Shoebridge whether he accepted any responsibility for having become a distraction.
"I think everyone contributes to their own downfall, if you like, in some ways, and I'm sure I have contributed to this in some ways."
In 2024, the Inspector of the NACC found he had committed "officer misconduct" when he failed to adequately remove himself from the decision making process as the commission processed referrals from the Robodebt royal commission.
One central issue was Mr Brereton's professional association with Kathryn Campbell, a former senior public servant who was one of the people that had been referred.
He disclosed the association, delegated the decision on whether to investigate the referrals to a deputy, was not found to have acted illegally, and made "a mistake of law or fact".
Now a fresh Inspector investigation - which deals with consultancy work undertaken for the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force - is currently pending.
"The investigation is ongoing and is incomplete, and it is inappropriate to comment further on the status of an ongoing investigation."
Mr Brereton continues to deny wrongdoing, despite taking the decision to quit.
The controversy surrounding its leader adds to broader criticism of the NACC.
The watchdog initially declined to investigate the Robodebt scandal, before reversing course, and ultimately finding two individuals had engaged in serious corrupt conduct.
It has also been criticised for a perceived reluctance to hold hearings in public, and being slow to respond to referrals.
Greens Senator Barbara Pocock says she personally referred a matter relating to the consultancy PWC on the day the NACC started.
She says she still hasn't received any information about her complaint
"I feel like I'm on the set of catch 22 Commissioner. Well, I need to know, and as the person who made the referral, this referral is at, and I think it's fair enough. After three years"
It's not just the Greens that have been critical.
The NACC was an election promise from Labor during the 2022 election campaign, as key independents campaigned hard on integrity and transparency in politics.
Now, Helen Haines, Zali Steggall, David Pocock, and others have joined growing calls for reform in the institution.
By Friday 29 May Attorney-General Michelle Rowland conceded, in an interview with ABC Radio, the current chaos could present a chance to reset the institution
"I acknowledge, and I know that Helen Haines, for example, has been making public comments on this, and she and I work very constructively together. I want your listeners to understand that this is an opportunity, I think, with the commissioner's resignation, and also we have a vacancy as a deputy commissioner, for a reset on this. I appreciate that this is not only an important integrity body, but it also needs to have public support in terms of perception, as well as in practice."
Senator David Pocock has suggested a lower threshold for hearings to be held in public and a fresh investigation into the Robodebt scheme as potential steps forward.
Michelle Rowland says she will engage across the parliament as part of the process of appointing a new commissioner, while leaving the door open to broader reform
"In terms of the legislative basis of how the commission operates, there is a statutory review mechanism that will come into effect next year, but in the meantime I am working as Attorney-General with the oversight committee of the parliament to look at ways in which the operation of the NACC can be more efficient and effective, so that work is underway."
