The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has officially commenced operations.

For the first time, Australia has a national agency with extensive powers to investigate serious corruption cases across the Commonwealth public sector.

The Hon Paul Brereton AM RFD SC, the inaugural National Anti-Corruption Commissioner, expressed the commission’s commitment to fulfilling the public's desire for a federal anti-corruption body. 

“We know the public are invested in this work and are watching expectantly,” he said. 

Under the National Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2022, the NACC aims to enhance integrity in the Commonwealth public sector through various means, including education, monitoring, investigation, reporting, and referral. 

One key feature of the NACC Act is the provision that enables the commission to work independently from the government, ensuring impartial investigations and findings that are free from external influence.

Commissioner Brereton said the commission must establish and maintain a reputation for being both fearless and fair.

“Our functions include not only detecting corruption, but also clearing the air of unfounded allegations of corruption,” he said. 

Additionally, the NACC will use its education and public inquiry functions to support government and Commonwealth agencies in maintaining ethical conduct.

Commissioner Brereton, renowned for leading complex and sensitive investigations, including the Afghanistan Inquiry Report, has been appointed for a 5-year term. 

He will be supported by three Deputy Commissioners; Ms Nicole Rose PSM, Dr Ben Gauntlett, and Ms Jaala Hinchcliffe.

The NACC has received a flood of referrals, including claims relating to troubled accounting and consultancy firm PwC about its leaking of confidential government information to clients. 

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said that while anyone can refer matters to the commission, it is solely within the commission's purview to determine which cases to investigate.