Paul Brereton

Paul Brereton served as the inaugural commissioner of Australia’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) from June 2023 until his resignation on July 6, 2026. His tenure involved several controversies regarding undisclosed conflicts of interest, specifically concerning his ongoing consulting role with the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force (IGADF) and his handling of Robodebt-related referrals. In 2024, the NACC Inspector found Brereton engaged in officer misconduct by failing to adequately manage a declared conflict of interest regarding a Robodebt referral. The finding did not identify intentional wrongdoing or impropriety but noted that he was affected by apprehended bias. Separately, Brereton faced investigations following reports that he continued to consult for the IGADF while serving as NACC commissioner, despite previous assurances he had stepped away. This included an undisclosed age extension granted for his reserve military service to access protected defense material. In October 2025, Brereton recused himself from all defense-related corruption referrals. In early 2026, the NACC Inspector launched investigations into these defense ties and other conduct. Following his resignation, these investigations were discontinued in July 2026 by the NACC Inspector, who stated she could not justify the expenditure since Brereton no longer held the position and the systemic issues had been addressed. Brereton consistently denied any impropriety throughout his term.