Commissioner Brereton In conversation at the Government Services Summit
Dear National Anti-Corruption Commission,
This is a Freedom of Information Request under the Freedom of Information Act 1982.
In the Monthly update for August 2025 (https://www.nacc.gov.au/news-and-media/m...), the Commission website states the following:
"On Tuesday 29 July, Commissioner Brereton participated in the Australian Financial Review’s Government Services Summit, where public sector leaders gathered to discuss contemporary priorities and challenges for the delivery of government services.
In answer to a question from moderator Ron Mizen, Commissioner Brereton explained to the audience that investigating corruption takes time – due to the secrecy in which corrupt conduct takes place, and the need to use a range of covert techniques.
Commissioner Brereton also referred to the corruption risks and vulnerabilities that arise at the public/private interface – where government retains consultants and contractors to provide or deliver services. These risks include the misuse of government information for commercial advantage. He emphasised that consultants and contractors engaged in assisting a Commonwealth agency are within the Commission’s jurisdiction.
Asked about public hearings, he explained that the law imposed a high bar of ‘extraordinary circumstances’ for holding a public hearing, and to date there has not been a private hearing that he felt would have been better conducted publicly, bearing in mind that the purpose of a hearing is to obtain evidence for an investigation.
Our participation in public engagements like these is part of our work to prevent corruption by providing education and information about corrupt conduct and building public and stakeholder awareness and understanding about corruption risks"
I seek access to the transcript of this Conversation held by Commissioner Brereton, in his position as Commissioner of the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
Yours faithfully,
Glenn Hamiltonshire
OFFICIAL
Dear Mr Hamiltonshire
Freedom of Information Request no. 26/13
I refer to your request for access to documents relating to a transcript
under the Freedom of Information Act 1982. I have taken your request to be
for:
o A transcript of Commissioner Brereton’s conversation as part of the
Australian Financial Review’s Government Services Summit on 29 July
2025.
We received your request on 8 August 2025 and the 30-day statutory period
for processing your request commenced from the day after that date. You
should therefore expect a decision from us by 8 September 2025. The period
of 30 days may be extended if we need to consult third parties or for
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Yours sincerely
Mackenzie
E. [4][email address]
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