The following is a summary of the key activities and operational undertakings by the Commission as at 26 February 2025.
Referrals and assessments
Since the Commission began operations on 1 July 2023, it has completed assessment of 4,117 referrals. This accounts for almost 90% of the total 4,686 referrals received to date.
The time taken to assess a referral depends on a range of factors including its complexity, whether it is necessary to seek additional information, and its prioritisation relative to other referrals.
Investigations
Over the period from 1 July 2023 to 26 February 2025, the Commission has commenced a total of 58 preliminary investigations to confirm whether or not a referral raises a corruption issue for investigation. 24 of these have concluded, with 22 finding that no corruption issues arose, and 2 progressing to corruption investigations. 34 preliminary investigations remain ongoing.
The Commission has commenced a total of 37 corruption investigations, 12 of them joint with other agencies. Of these, 5 have been finalised. There are currently 32 investigations on foot, including 2 investigations where the Commissioner has decided to prepare a report on an investigation, with 1 of these now at the procedural fairness stage. 1 matter is already the subject of a prosecution, in which there has been a guilty plea.
Investigation themes
Of the Commission’s 32 current investigations:
- 8 relate to one or more former or current parliamentarians
- 5 relate to one or more former or current parliamentary staffers
- 4 relate to one or more contractors or consultants
- 15 relate to one or more senior officials (SES and above)
- 6 relate to one or more law enforcement officials
- 14 relate to procurement
- 5 relate to recruitment
- 4 relate to the border
- 4 relate to law enforcement misconduct
- 3 relate to grants
- 4 relate to entitlements.
The Commission is overseeing or monitoring 14 investigations by other agencies.
ACLEI legacy investigations
Upon commencement, the Commission subsumed the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity (ACLEI) and became responsible for the monitoring and closure of its outstanding legislative compliance obligations.
Of ACLEI’s 32 open referral assessments, 22 investigations at various stages and 46 agency investigation subject to oversight or reporting requirements which transitioned to the Commission:
- There have been 7 convictions
- 4 matters remain before the court
- There have been 2 investigation reports published. Another matter is at the procedural fairness stage.
Operational activity
Since 1 July 2023 and up to 31 January 2025, in its investigations and preliminary investigations, the Commission has issued 283 directions or notices to produce documents or information. It has conducted hearings in 7 investigations involving 32 witnesses. The Commission has issued 41 search warrants, 22 telephone interception warrants, 17 surveillance device warrants, and conducted one controlled operation.
The legislation that governs the Commission requires that ordinarily its proceedings be conducted in private. This is chiefly to avoid the risk of unfair and premature damage to reputations that can be caused when unproven allegations of corruption are publicised, and to avoid compromising the efficacy and fairness of investigations.
Corruption prevention and education
To date, the Commission has delivered 211 corruption prevention and education sessions to public officials and civil society, including the most senior members of the public service and parliamentarians.
The Commission provides expert advice to Commonwealth agencies on corruption and integrity policy, making 18 submissions to a range of consultations and reviews in the 20 months since it commenced.
The Commission has also undertaken 63 engagements with a range of international counterparts. The Commission plays an ongoing role, alongside other partners, in contributing to global efforts to combat corruption, as well as bolster public governance internationally, especially in the Pacific.
Capabilities and resources
The Commission has grown from 154 staff at commencement to 228. The Commission operates out of 5 offices nationwide, 3 of which were constructed and occupied in the 19 months since commencement.