The National Anti-Corruption Commissioner, Paul Brereton, has quit, two years short of completing his five year term. His time in the job has been marked by repeated controversy.

Brereton said in a statement:

The ongoing focus on matters relating to me personally rather than the Commission’s work is drawing attention away from the Commission’s core purpose of strengthening integrity in the Commonwealth public sector. I believe that the Commission’s success is paramount, and not due to any single person. While I will continue to resist any suggestion of impropriety, I have decided that it is time, now that the Commission is established and 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.“

The ongoing focus on matters relating to me personally rather than the Commission’s work is drawing attention away from the Commission’s core purpose of strengthening integrity in the Commonwealth public sector.

I believe that the Commission’s success is paramount, and not due to any single person. While I will continue to resist any suggestion of impropriety, I have decided that it is time, now that the Commission is established and 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.“

The Inspector of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has been investigating "complaints of agency maladministration or officer misconduct” regarding Brereton’s relationship with the Australian Defence Force.

Brereton had come under fire for undertaking consultancy work for the Inspector-General of the ADF while in his NACC post.

Earlier the Inspector of the NAAC in 2024 found Brereton had committed “officer misconduct” for his handling of a conflict of interest in relation to the Robodebt scandal. He had failed to properly recuse himself when the NACC was considering referrals from the Robodebt........

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