Media Release: NACC puts out the trash but keeps its Commissioner - for now
Media Release: NACC puts out the trash but keeps its Commissioner - for now | Australian Greens Skip to main content Search Get Involved Join Donate Our plan Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action Policy principles & aims Our team Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Media releases Take action Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Our movement About the Greens Become a member Jobs Green Magazine All news Get Involved Join Donate Search Our plan Toggle Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action Policy principles & aims Our team Toggle Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Media releases Take action Toggle Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Our movement Toggle About the Greens Become a member Jobs Green Magazine All news Media Release: NACC puts out the trash but keeps its Commissioner - for now 2025-11-01 The NACC has announced that Commissioner Brereton will no longer participate in consideration of Defence referrals.
They did this in a statement on its website on the afternoon of Friday 31 October announcing that Commissioner Brereton “has decided that he will not participate in consideration of any referrals which involve the interests of any Defence or ADF individual or unit that is or comes before the Commission, regardless of whether it might reasonably be perceived to involve a conflict”.
The NACC goes on to say “The Commissioner is taking this step, although it is unnecessary from the perspective of properly managing actual or apparent conflicts, solely in an endeavour to recentre the focus on our important operational and educational work.” Senator David Shoebridge, Greens Justice and Defence Spokesperson said: “This is a ‘major-general’ backdown from Commissioner Brereton who, up until now, tried to stare down the growing public revolt over the conflicts of interest.
“In a show of contempt for transparency the NACC only disclosed this major development with a website post put up after 5pm on Friday night. There’s a name for this, it’s called, “putting out the trash.” “This announcement leaves so many unanswered questions: - Why is Commissioner Brereton still a Major-General in the ADF? - What happens to all the defence referrals he has been working on, and making decisions on, until now? - Why is Commissioner Brereton being paid over $800k a year not to work on defence referrals?
“Defence, which is embroiled in a series of multi-million dollar procurement scandals, is one of the largest customers for the NACC which had over 120 Defence referrals as at April this year. “It is not just that the NACC’s statement came late on a Friday night, so too did the Government’s tabling of the NACC Annual Report which was over two weeks late. “Astoundingly, given the serial failures of the NACC Commissioner Brereton to deal with conflicts of interest in his own role, the NACC says conflicts of interest is one of its three main corruption prevention themes.
“Corruption complaints concerning conflicts of interest are also identified in the NACC annual report as major elements of its ongoing work. “It remains untenable for Commission Brereton to stay as the NACC Commissioner given his repeated failure to deal with his own conflicts of interest. “This latest step only highlights the damage he has done to the NACC’s public standing.
“Anti-corruption agencies should be modelling best practice, not cynically making significant announcements late on Friday afternoons. “The Albanese Government needs to act and, if Commissioner Brereton will not leave of his accord, bring the matter before the Parliament for a decision on his future,” Senator Shoebridge said. Facebook for the Australian Greens YouTube for the Australian Greens X for the Australian Greens Instagram for the Australian Greens Bluesky for the Australian Greens Privacy Members website Your safety Contact us Our plan Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action In your language 2025 policy platform Policy principles & aims Our team Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Federal portfolios Federal media releases Take action Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Upcoming events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Green Magazine All news Our movement About the Greens Become a member Jobs Members website State/territory parties Contact us The Greens acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture.
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