Brereton also faced scrutiny over consulting work undertaken for the inspector-general of the Australian Defence Force while serving as commissioner, linked to his earlier role leading an inquiry into alleged war crimes involving Australian troops in Afghanistan. In October 2024, NACC inspector Gail Furness found Brereton had been affected by apprehended bias in matters connected to commission referrals and should have removed himself from decision-making and limited his exposure to factual material. The inspector made no finding of intentional wrongdoing or impropriety. Deputy commissioner Nicole
Rose announced her resignation earlier this month. She is relocating overseas and will finish in the coming weeks before taking a period of leave. In announcing his resignation, Brereton argued the commission had matured beyond any one individual and pointed to progress made since its creation, including assessing more than 92 per cent of 7624 referrals and conducting investigations across law enforcement agencies, Commonwealth departments and government business enterprises. Thirty-four investigations remain underway involving former and current parliamentarians, staff, senior public servants, contractors, consultants and
a grants scheme.
Paul Brereton, National Anti-Corruption Commission, NACC, Gail Furness, apprehended bias, inspector-general of the Australian Defence Force, Nicole Rose resignation, Afghanistan war crimes inquiry, referrals, investigations
So he quit because he was supposed to be biased? Seems like they should’ve caught this sooner.
I don’t even get it, like “no intentional wrongdoing” but still he had to step aside? That wording is confusing. Sounds like politics either way.
Wait, so he did a defense force consulting thing and then also led an Afghanistan war crimes inquiry? That’s like the same thing as being a cop who investigates his own buddy, no? Not saying he’s guilty, but the whole “apparent” bias thing feels like a loophole.
The article says he assessed 92% of 7,624 referrals… and still resigns?? That’s wild. Also Nicole Rose is moving overseas like it’s a vacation, then leaving, then “period of leave.” Meanwhile 34 investigations still going so of course everyone’s mad.