Australia's NACC commissioner Paul Brereton resigns early

The inaugural commissioner of Australia’s National Anti-Corruption Commission has resigned, ending a turbulent three-year tenure marked by persistent questions over potential conflicts of interest. Paul Brereton, a former army major-general and judge, announced his resignation on Monday, effective July 6, two years before his five-year term was due to conclude. He stated that the ongoing focus on matters relating to him personally had become a distraction from the commission's core work.

Brereton’s departure follows months of scrutiny over his handling of potential conflicts, primarily concerning his ongoing work with the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force while serving as commissioner. In October 2024, the NACC’s inspector, Gail Furness, found that Brereton’s work had been affected by “apprehended bias” in matters connected to commission referrals and that he should have removed himself from related decision-making. The inspector made no finding of intentional wrongdoing or impropriety.

The commissioner faced further criticism over the NACC’s initial decision not to investigate referrals related to the illegal robodebt scheme, a decision that was later...