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Labor urged to use anti-corruption commission appointment to restore public confidence in watchdog
TL;DR
Independent MP Helen Haines urges the Albanese government to implement merit-based selection for the National Anti-Corruption Commission's deputy commissioner position to restore public confidence. Nicole Rose, the current deputy commissioner, is resigning this month.
Key points
- Helen Haines calls for merit-based selection for NACC appointments
- Nicole Rose resigns from her position as deputy commissioner
- Haines emphasizes the need for transparency in the appointment process
- The Albanese government has an opportunity to restore public confidence
Mentioned in this story
National Anti-Corruption CommissionHelen HainesNicole Rose
A key architect of the National Anti-Corruption Commission says parliament should consider new merit-based and independent selection processes for major appointments, urging the Albanese government to use an existing vacancy to restore public confidence in the watchdog.
Independent MP Helen Haines, who helped craft legislation to establish the Nacc, sits on its parliamentary oversight committee. She said “the clock is ticking” on replacing deputy commissioner Nicole Rose, who announced her resignation this month.
Rose is relocating overseas and will finish in the job this month before taking a period of leave.
Haines said replacing Rose through a clear and transparent process would assist parliament’s joint committee on the Nacc to fulfil its role of reviewing and approving appointments.
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“Recruitment for a new deputy commissioner is a critical opportunity for the government to strengthen public confidence in the National Anti-Corruption Commission,” Haines told Guardian Australia.
Haines has made only rare comments on the Nacc’s operations, due to her responsibilities regarding its oversight.
A statutory review of Nacc’s early operation is expected in 2027. It will follow a controversial first five years, including criticism about commissioner Paul Brereton’s external work for Defence and the Nacc’s handling of referrals related to the illegal robodebt scheme.
The Nacc’s original decision not to investigate was heavily criticised, with the watchdog receiving more than 1,000 complaints.
The Nacc inspector, Gail Furness, released a report in October 2024 finding that Brereton was “affected by apprehended bias” and should have “removed himself from related decision-making processes and limited his exposure to the relevant factual information”.
The report found Brereton had appointed a deputy as a delegate to decide referrals to the Nacc, due to a perceived conflict of interest with one of the individuals, which he declared. The Nacc noted the report contained “no finding of intentional wrongdoing or other impropriety”.
Q&A
What is the role of the National Anti-Corruption Commission?
The National Anti-Corruption Commission is responsible for overseeing and investigating corruption within government bodies.
Why is Helen Haines advocating for a new selection process for the NACC?
Helen Haines believes that a merit-based and independent selection process will help restore public confidence in the NACC.
Who is replacing Nicole Rose as deputy commissioner of the NACC?
As of now, a replacement for Nicole Rose has not been announced, but her resignation creates an opportunity for a new appointment.
What impact does Nicole Rose's resignation have on the NACC?
Nicole Rose's resignation creates a vacancy that the Albanese government can use to implement a transparent selection process, potentially improving public trust in the NACC.
