Outgoing National Anti-Corruption Commissioner Paul Brereton has defended his actions and decisions during a tense Senate estimates hearing, rejecting suggestions that he contributed to the suffering of robodebt victims. The hearing also revealed that Brereton is the subject of a second investigation by the Nacc inspector, Gail Furness, who did not disclose the nature of the complaint.
Brereton said he decided to resign three years into his five-year term because the ongoing investigations had become a distraction. “The fact of having been under investigation and being distracted from doing the job that I wanted to do as commissioner by the need to defend myself … that’s why I decided to resign,” he told senators. He added that staff at the commission are now “terrified of making any mistake of fact or law”.
The first investigation concerns Brereton’s consulting work for his former employer, the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force, while serving as commissioner. An incomplete draft report has been handed to Brereton and is expected to be completed soon. Furness confirmed the investigations could continue despite his resignation.
Brereton acknowledged he was wrong to have been involved in considering referrals related to the robodebt scheme, but pushed back against Greens Senator David Shoebridge’s call for an apology to victims. “My involvement … was entirely in good faith,” Brereton said. “However, to suggest that that is the main cause of the appalling tragedy that the robodebt victims have suffered is, I suggest, gilding the lily on your part.”
Nacc chief executive Philip Reed defended Brereton, saying he had been treated “very poorly” by parliamentarians and commentators. Deputy commissioner Nicole Rose also announced her resignation, effective 6 July, citing a personal decision.
