The National Anti-Corruption Commission provides the following update on the number of referrals received since commencing operations on 1 July 2023.
At close of business Monday 24 July 2023, the Commission had received 494 referrals.
Approximately 13% of the referrals relate to matters well publicised in the media. This figure includes, but is not limited to, referrals relating to Robodebt.
The Commission has been responding to media interest by sharing the best information available at the time. We found that in our early reporting some cases were mistakenly counted more than once when identifying those that related to matters that had been 'well-publicized in the media', leading to an inflated proportion of cases in that category. This has been corrected in the figures reported on 17 July (12%) and today (13%). It should also be noted that there are multiple referrals by different referrers of the same matters.
Assessing referrals
Referrals that have been received are now being assessed. This is a process by which the Commission considers whether and if so how to investigate the issue raised by the referral. The Commission’s assessment policy is available on its website at How the NACC assesses corruption issues.
The Commission is appreciative of the high level of interest and referrals it has received so far. We will soon be reaching out to individual referrers where we need additional information, or to let them know if we have decided not to proceed further.
We are unable to proceed with referrals where:
- They do not involve a Commonwealth public official
- They do not raise a matter of corrupt conduct
- They are otherwise not within the Commission’s jurisdiction.
Due process
In light of commentary that the National Anti-Corruption Commission statutory office holders may have previous associations or relationships that present a conflict of interest, the Commission advises the following.
Prior to commencement in their roles, the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners, in accordance with due process, declared that individuals well known to them, should they become the subject of a referral, would be allocated to another appropriate statutory office holder and they would recuse themself from any decision concerning the individual or individuals in question.
The availability of three Deputy Commissioners as well as the Commissioner enables the Commission to manage such situations, which are inevitable, fairly and transparently.