In a defiant address at a governance forum, National Anti-Corruption Commission (Nacc) chief Paul Brereton rejected mounting calls for his resignation over the handling of robodebt royal commission referrals. The embattled commissioner vowed to “put things right” while insisting the independent watchdog would not bow to public pressure.
Conflict of Interest Controversy
Brereton’s leadership came under fire after the Nacc inspector found he failed to adequately manage a declared conflict of interest related to his past professional association with one of six individuals referred to the commission for potential corruption probes. The Nacc’s initial decision not to further investigate the referred parties sparked a deluge of complaints and accusations of bias.
While acknowledging he “got the balance wrong,” Brereton maintained that committing an “error of judgment” did not warrant stepping down. “If every judge found to have made a mistake of law or fact resigned, there wouldn’t be one sitting on the bench in this country,” he argued.
Resisting the “Blame Culture”
The commissioner drew parallels to his remarks at the same forum last year regarding the resignation of an Optus executive over a nationwide outage. He reiterated concerns that a pervasive “blame culture” discourages owning up to mistakes, suggesting he was now being made a “scapegoat” in a similar fashion.
If we recognise that the mistakes will happen, accept responsibility for them and put things right, rather than just seeking a scapegoat, we will do a lot to improve culture in the public service.
Paul Brereton, Nacc Commissioner
Asserting Nacc Independence
Brereton remained adamant that neither he nor the Nacc would be swayed by public sentiment, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the commission’s independence. “If I’m to be deterred from discharging my duties by adverse publicity, that will undermine the independence of the commission in more than a minor way,” he asserted.
The commissioner hinted at a potential disconnect between public expectations and the Nacc’s actual mandate, stressing it is “not a complaints handling agency, nor an administrative decisions review authority.” He indicated the commission would prioritize matters not already under investigation by other bodies.
Call for Integrity Culture Shift
Painting a grim picture of the current integrity landscape, Brereton pointed the finger at leadership for fostering a poor organizational culture. He called for an honest, impartial, and public-interest-focused approach to decision-making, emphasizing the need to openly report matters and own inevitable mistakes.
As an independent review of the Nacc’s contested referral decisions gets underway, the commissioner’s forthright remarks have reignited debate over the fledgling watchdog’s credibility and effectiveness. With the nation’s trust in public institutions already bruised by the robodebt fiasco, Brereton’s ability to steer the Nacc through this turbulence may prove a defining test.
The commissioner’s staunch defense of his position and the Nacc’s independence sets the stage for a high-stakes showdown between public accountability and the commission’s commitment to pursuing corruption without fear or favor. As the ripples from the robodebt scandal continue to reverberate through Australia’s political landscape, all eyes will be on Brereton and the Nacc to see if they can indeed “put things right” and restore faith in the nation’s integrity frameworks.
