Investigations into former anti-corruption chief Paul Brereton nixed over cost concerns

Brereton, the Nacc's inaugural commissioner, stepped down three years into his five-year term in May, stating that investigations into his conduct were distracting from the commission's core purpose. His tenure concluded on Monday.

One of the discontinued investigations stemmed from revelations that Brereton had not appropriately declared conflicts of interest related to his ongoing role within the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force (IGADF) or while overseeing defence-related referrals. Although Furness had prepared a draft report, she deemed further investigation unnecessary as the relevant information was publicly available and a legal issue concerning public governance laws, contested by Brereton's lawyers, was resolved by his resignation.

A second, incomplete investigation into Brereton's conduct will also cease. Details of this probe remain largely undisclosed due to concerns for the complainant's safety and legal challenges from Brereton's lawyers. Furness indicated that the publication of a final report would be significantly curtailed, a factor in her decision not to continue.

Furness concluded that Brereton's resignation meant the Nacc would no longer be hampered by continued scrutiny of his actions, leading her to cease both investigations.