National Anti-Corruption Commission chief Paul Brereton resigns

The head of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), Paul Brereton, has resigned, two years before his post was due to end.

Brereton was appointed as the NACC’s inaugural commissioner in July 2023 for a five-year term, but his tenure was marred by oversight of his external defense work.

The resignation of the outgoing commissioner will take effect on July 6.

In a statement, Brereton said that while he “opposes[s] any suggestion of impropriety”, it was time for him to step aside.

“The continued focus on matters that affect me personally rather than the work of the commission distracts from the commission’s core purpose: strengthening integrity in the Commonwealth’s public sector, which has always been my primary focus as commissioner,” Brereton said.

“I believe the commission’s success is critical and cannot be attributed to any one person.

“While I will continue to oppose any suggestion of impropriety, I have decided that it is time, now that the Commission has been established and is functioning with quality staff and good processes, to step aside and allow a new Commissioner to lead it into the next phase of its development into a key and respected part of the Commonwealth’s integrity architecture.”

Attorney General Michelle Rowland thanked Brereton for his service and said a new NACC commissioner would be appointed in due course.

“Commissioner Brereton has made an invaluable contribution to the establishment of the NACC as its inaugural commissioner,” Rowland said.

When appointed commissioner in 2023, Brereton said his ambition was to have a commission that was “fearless but fair”.

Brereton came under scrutiny for months over alleged conflicts of interest related to his continued links with the Australian Defense Force (ADF) and was investigated for officer misconduct.

He previously served as Assistant Inspector General of the ADF when he delivered the Afghanistan Inquiry Report.

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