National Anti-Corruption Commission
The National Anti-Corruption Commission began operations on 1 July 2023. It is an independent Australian Government agency. The NACC’s mission is to enhance integrity in the Commonwealth public sector. It does so by detecting, investigating and reporting on serious or systemic corrupt conduct among public officials. The NACC educates the public service and the public about corruption risks and prevention.
Corruption has no place in the Australian Commonwealth public sector. It undermines the delivery of services and benefits to the community and leads to a loss of public trust in the way government decisions are made. Without the community’s trust, the ability of the public sector to serve the government, the Parliament and the Australian public is diminished.
Deterrence activities by the NACC include detection, investigation and exposure of corruption. The NACC can receive referrals from anyone and can start investigations on its own motion.
At the close of its first year of operation on 30 June 2024, the NACC:
- had received 3,189 referrals
- was conducting 26 corruption investigations and 29 preliminary investigations
- was overseeing or monitoring 19 investigations by other agencies
- had 5 matters before the court
- had 2 matters resulting in convictions.
Corruption can be prevented through engagement and education. The NACC aims to build resistance to corrupt conduct, to encourage reporting and to cultivate a culture of integrity across the Commonwealth public sector.
In its first year, the NACC conducted 124 presentations to stakeholders, including parliamentarians, agency heads and senior public servants, departmental and agency staff, civil society organisations and professional associations.
A key feature of the NACC’s prevention work is educating senior leadership in the Commonwealth public sector about the importance of organisational culture in shaping behaviours, values and decision-making. Continued themes of the NACC’s work include:
- cultivating accountability
- identifying risks and vulnerabilities
- helping public officials across all levels navigate challenges with ethical decision-making will continue to be a theme of its work.
The NACC is overseen by an inspector to monitor legal compliance and a parliamentary joint committee to monitor performance.
Find out more
Australian Government (n.d.) National Anti-Corruption Commission, National Anti-Corruption Commission website, accessed 6 August 2024.
Australian Government (2024) Weekly update: referrals, assessment and investigations, National Anti-Corruption Commission website, accessed 6 August 2024.