Paul Brereton, the head of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), has stepped down from his role, ending his tenure two years ahead of schedule.
Initially appointed in July 2023 as the commission’s first-ever commissioner with a five-year mandate, Brereton’s time in office has been overshadowed by controversies surrounding his engagements with the defense sector.
His resignation is set to be official on July 6.
Brereton issued a statement indicating his decision to resign despite rejecting any claims of wrongdoing, stating it was time for him to move on.
“The persistent focus on issues concerning my personal affairs, rather than the commission’s objectives, detracts from our mission to enhance integrity within the Commonwealth public sector,” Brereton expressed.
He emphasized that the success of the commission should not be attributed to an individual but to its overarching goals.
“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 into a key and respected component of the integrity architecture of the Commonwealth.”
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 he was appointed commissioner in 2023, Brereton said it was his ambition to have a commission that was “fearless but fair”.
Brereton faced months of scrutiny over alleged conflicts of interest related to his ongoing ties to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and had been 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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