In a report released on Wednesday morning, National Anti-Corruption Commission Inspector Gail Furness concluded that the commissioner, Paul Brereton, disclosed a conflict of interest in relation to the robo-debt matter but said he should have withdrawn from the matter completely, resulting in a finding of “officer misconduct … that is not unlawful but arose from a mistake of law or fact”.

Two integrity experts said Brereton should resign because he had engaged in misconduct and had failed to manage a conflict of interest, while another said he should be “chastened” over the official review into his handling of the matter.

The review by Furness, who has the power to examine the commission’s work, also triggered a broader debate about whether the corruption watchdog was fulfilling its mission less than 18 months after it began its work.

The conflict of interest is said to centre on Brereton’s acquaintance with Kathryn Campbell, the secretary of the Department of Human Services during much of the robo-debt scheme, although the review released on Wednesday redacted the name of the “referred person” who triggered the concerns.

Robo-debt royal commissioner Catherine Holmes found in July last year that 526,000 people were asked to repay money they did not owe and that six federal officials should face further investigation, leading her to refer six individuals to the NACC.

The NACC announced in June it would not pursue the referrals. Brereton, acknowledged he had a conflict of interest because he had a close association with someone who had been referred.

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/corruption-commission-to-review-robo-debt-decision-after-boss-misconduct-finding-20241030-p5kmj7.html

SEE ALSO: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-31/paul-brereton-national-anti-corruption-commission/104538482

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