Integrity in government was one of the issues that determined the outcome of the 2022 federal election. Across Australia, voters wanted a change. The very make-up of the 47th Parliament, with its large crossbench of independents, reflects this fact.
When I spoke in parliament on this (National Anti-Corruption Commission) legislation, I reflected on my interactions with constituents before and during the 2022 election.
Before the election, my constituents in Bean frequently told me they wanted a government that would return integrity and trust to parliament. For many, it was the most important issue that they wanted to see addressed. In one instance, a retired Commonwealth public servant explained that he was keenly watching the work on the integrity commission, noting that he’d always upheld the APS values and code of conduct. However, he was ashamed that there were not the same clear standards for federal politicians. This is another part of the integrity ecosystem that we need to turn our attention to. This retired public servant was not alone. The people in my electorate, and indeed across Australia, had no trust in the previous government’s willingness to address these matters and restore trust and integrity into government.
I am proud that the Albanese Government is addressing the concerns of voters with the creation of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). The NACC has a strong leadership team to lead it to through its historic early days of operations. The Hon. Justice Paul Brereton AM will lead the NACC as its very first Commissioner. Justice Brereton has become known from his recent work leading the inquiry into allegations of war crimes in Afghanistan, and was most recently serving on the NSW Court of Appeal. Justice Brereton will be joined at the NACC by Deputy Commissioners Nicole Rose and Ben Gauntlett, with senior barrister Gail Furness SC to act as Inspector.
The appointment of highly competent, qualified, respected, and non-political leaders will send a strong message that this Commission means business.
In his opening remarks, Commissioner Brereton said: “The people of the Commonwealth are no longer prepared to tolerate practices, which might once have been the subject of, if not acceptance, at least acquiescence. You have clearly expressed the desire for an anti-corruption agency … the government with a mandate to act on that desire with an agenda to strengthen integrity across the Commonwealth public sector has legislated to establish this independent commission.”
With these remarks, Commissioner Brereton ushered in a new dawn of integrity, transparency, and accountability for the Commonwealth.
The NACC was a cornerstone election promise for the Albanese Government. Importantly, the Commission was born with the unanimous support of all political parties in the Parliament. The commencement of the NACC reflects a government delivering on its commitment to the Australian people to return integrity, honesty, and accountability to public life by establishing a powerful, transparent, and independent integrity body in its first term. The establishment of the NACC has already begun the important work of restoring the faith of the Australian people in their parliament and government.
