Anti-corruption boss scrutinised for potential conflict
The head of the National Anti-Corruption Commission is facing two unresolved complaints regarding potential conflicts of interest.
Commissioner Paul Brereton has faced criticism for his connection to the Australian Defense Force.
An army reserve major general has continued to consult with the defense force’s watchdog after launching a landmark review into allegations that Australian special forces soldiers committed war crimes in Afghanistan.
In her annual report to parliament on Thursday, inspector Gail Furness, who serves as a monitor for the National Anti-Corruption Commission, said she had received four complaints about potential conflicts of interest due to defense force involvement.
One of them was resolved, the second was dismissed, and two are under investigation.
Ms Furness had previously concluded Mr Brereton committed officer misconduct, which is when the action was not unlawful but was a legal or factual error.
The annual report revealed that the number of complaints about the watchdog increased to 75 in 2024/25, up from 50 the previous year.
Fifty complaints related to the decision not to investigate a person’s referral.
The national anti-corruption commission announced in its monthly report in October that Mr Brereton would recuse himself from all defense-related matters.
The Commission said it declared and appropriately managed any perceived or actual conflicts of interest in Defense referrals.
However, media coverage of the issue has become a distraction to the commission’s work, and it has been stated that Mr Brereton will withdraw himself from all matters relating to the defense force, not just from units or individuals with which he is associated.
“Abandoning these links will not eliminate the potential for conflict that may arise due to historical relations,” the commission said. he said.
The commission said Defense represented only three per cent of referrals, which could easily be covered by three deputy commissioners.
Independent senator David Pocock called for Mr Brereton to step aside to restore confidence in the anti-corruption watchdog.
As of November 5, the Anti-Corruption Commission has 38 corruption investigations, 32 preliminary investigations, 11 joint corruption investigations with other institutions and three cases in the courts.
