This article first appeared at The Mandarin.
The federal government has announced who will lead the long-awaited National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), with NSW Court of Appeal Judge Paul Brereton named commissioner.
Brereton, who will be on a $728,900 salary, is also an Australian Defence Force assistant inspector-general and holds a commission as a major general in the reserves.
The two deputy commissioners have public service experience: Nicole Rose is CEO of the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) and Dr Ben Gauntlett has been the disability discrimination commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission.
Two appointments are from the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). Philip Reed is NACC’s inaugural CEO and Gail Furness has been named as inspector.
It is unsurprising that NSW ICAC talent was selected for the NACC, given experts have described it as the most effective commission in the country.
In addition to the five permanent appointments, integrity commissioner and agency head of the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity Jaala Hinchcliffe has been named acting deputy commissioner for 12 months or until a permanent appointment is made.
All permanent appointments are for five years.
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said each individual had been appointed according to the government’s merit and transparency policy.
“With these proposed appointments, the government is delivering on its commitment to the Australian people to return integrity, honesty and accountability to government by establishing a powerful, transparent and independent National Anti-Corruption Commission in its first term,” Dreyfus said.
The NACC is expected to provide a channel for public servants to raise corruption concerns.
Jesus! $700K a year! – if I had the job for six months I could retire
Kathryn Campbell is said to be being paid $800k per year for sitting idle at Defence, after having been moved from all Robodebt-connected portfolios.
Mate, done properly it will be chicken feed, it is probably less than one pork barrel promise made by the LNP. however I am very disappointed that the enquiry will be made behind closed doors. More transparency is required for this to be successful.
A good start would be the unredacted release of his report into the serial killers at the SAS..
So, the guy responsible for rooting out corruption gets paid 3/4 of a mil per year… And his work is to be conducted in secret.
Seems legit
Wondering why this cartoon (mocking the Libs’ total abrogation of their commitment to institute a NACC) shouldn’t still be considered relevant:
http://www.crikey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/16-05-22-cic.jpg