New corruption Paul Brereton has consultants in his sights

Paul Brereton, the head of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), has emphasized his focus on the private consultancy sector and its relations with government operations. While addressing Allens law firm during the UN Global Compact Network’s 2023 Australian Dialogue on Bribery and Corruption, Brereton, the first chief of the newly established anti-corruption agency, expressed concerns regarding the government’s dependency on private consultants. He noted that although much attention has been on parliamentarians, the NACC’s jurisdiction largely pertains to commonwealth public officials and has significant implications for the corporate sector. Within just a month since its inception, the NACC has registered 541 complaints. Brereton stressed that apart from investigations, the commission is committed to preventing corruption by educating both the public sector and the general public. Geoffrey Watson SC, from the Centre for Public Integrity, Australia’s leading anti-corruption think tank, lauded Brereton’s statements, emphasizing prevention as a fundamental aspect of the NACC’s agenda.

This is a summary of “New corruption Paul Brereton has consultants in his sights” published in The Australian on August 10, 2023, written by Jenna Clarke. Read it in full here.