Australia has a new anti-corruption watchdog, and it promises to be one with some muscle behind it.

In the lead-up to the last federal election in the country, politicians bickered over the merits and design of such an agency but now the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is here, operational as of July 1.

The number of referrals and demands for investigations are already stacking up – including calls to probe the PwC tax scandal and the former government services minister Stuart Robert’s dealings with a lobbying firm.

Enhancing integrity

Established under the National Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2022, the NACC “enhances integrity in the Commonwealth’s public sector by deterring, detecting and preventing corrupt conduct involving Commonwealth public officials.

It does this through education; monitoring the Commission’s compliance with Commonwealth laws and officer misconduct; investigating allegations of serious corrupt conduct; and reporting on its initiatives to keep the public informed.

“The Australian people have expressed a clear desire for a federal anti-corruption body with jurisdiction over Commonwealth officials. We know the public are invested in this work and are watching expectantly.”

Hon. Paul Brereton, NACC Commissioner

Leading the watchdog is the Hon. Paul Brereton AM RFD SC, who has previously served as a solicitor, barrister, senior counsel, judge and judge of appeal, and his term is for five years. Serving under him are three deputy commissioners and a chief executive officer.

‘”The Australian people have expressed a clear desire for a federal anti-corruption body with jurisdiction over Commonwealth officials. We know the public are invested in this work and are watching expectantly,” Brereton said in a media announcement.

The NACC is overseen by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the National Anti-Corruption Commission and an Inspector of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, and its functions include:

• considering proposed recommendations for certain appointments;
• examining reports tabled in Parliament relating to the Commission and Inspector;
• examining trends and changes in corruption and reporting to Parliament on desirable changes to the functions, powers, procedures, structure and staffing of the Commission or Inspector; and
• reviewing the sufficiency of the Commission’s budget and finances and reporting on the outcome of that review.