Michelle Rowland
Greenway · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“Failure to comply with the identity verification requirement in ART proceedings would result in the tribunal being required to dismiss the matter.”
“Courts must retain a high degree of discretion in the management of proceedings. This means that the FCFCOA will also be able to extend time for satisfying the identity verification requirement or dispense with the requirement altogether where appropriate.”
“The bill provides safeguards for vulnerable applicants of the ART and will notapply these changes to reviews relating to social security, veterans entitlements, the National Disability Insurance Scheme or aged care where written reasons may play an important role.”
“Improving ART efficiency and operations The bill makes amendments to the Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024and other Commonwealth legislation to expand tribunal powers, improve tribunal processes, increase efficiency, avoid administrative delays, and aid the management of caseload surges and backlogs—particularly in migration matters…”
“I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The Administrative Review Tribunal (the ART) commenced operation on 14 October 2024, replacing the former Administrative Appeals Tribunal as Australia's primary federal merits review body.”
“It will provide an important touchpoint, and a further opportunity to protect the integrity of the merits and judicial review systems through identification checks.”
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“I can assure the member the framework is being developed carefully and methodically to ensure that it supports innovation whilst maintaining strong protections for individuals, especially where decisions affect rights, entitlements or obligations. Striking that right balance is essential. The government has undertaken extensive consultation, including with the public, to ensure the framework reflects community expectations. Ongoing engagement is also occurring across government to inform the design of the framework, including work with agencies that do have significant experience deploying ADM in their frontline services. The Albanese government's approach is future focused and it's focused on delivery.”
“For example, when you receive a Medicare benefit on the spot instead of having to lodge a claim, that is an automated decision. A well-designed ADM framework will achieve much, including improving accuracy and consistency of administrative decisions, embedding robust safeguards and ensuring ADM tools are used lawfully, responsibly and with appropriate human oversight. It will also enhance public trust by providing transparency about when and how automation is used in government. It will also lift productivity and service delivery performance, enabling faster, more reliable services that are aligned with community expectations.”
“I thank the member for her question and for her ongoing interest in this important reform. The Albanese government is working to protect Australians against a repeat of the former Liberal government's illegal and immoral robodebt scheme. We are developing a consistent whole-of-government framework for the use of automated decision-making, or ADM, implementing recommendations of the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme. Responding to the royal commission with durable reform is a priority for the government, particularly where it strengthens the integrity, lawfulness and transparency of Commonwealth decision-making. For the benefit of the House, ADM refers to the use of automated systems to carry out administrative actions and make decisions.”
“The limited extension provided by this bill will ensure the parliament has sufficient time to consider the broader reforms to the Commonwealth secrecy framework proposed by the Secrecy Provisions Amendment (Repealing Offences) Bill, before section 122.4 sunsets. Conclusion The bill reflects the government's commitment to ensuring Australia's secrecy laws are clear and fit for purpose, while providing parliament time to comprehensively consider important secrecy reforms. I commend the bill to the chamber. Debate adjourned.”
“I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The Secrecy Provisions Amendment (Sunsetting Provision) Bill extends the sunset date of section 122.4 of the Criminal Code until 29 December 2026. Section 122.4 makes it an offence for a Commonwealth officer, or a person engaged to perform work for a Commonwealth entity, to communicate information in breach of a duty arising elsewhere under the law of the Commonwealth. The Secrecy Provisions Amendment (Repealing Offences) Bill will make a range of amendments to the secrecy framework that would support the repeal of section 122.4. However, until parliament has considered these reforms, it is important that section 122.4 continues to apply to the communication of sensitive or confidential information by officials, in breach of their statutory duties.”
“The task before us is not to choose between secrecy and transparency, but to balance them wisely. The bill delivers this balance. I commend the bill to the chamber. Debate adjourned.”
“They include increasing thresholds to trigger criminal liability and nearly halving the penalty of imprisonment to ensure these offences are proportionate. Offences applying to Commonwealth officials will also be amended. These amendments will establish a single material threshold of harm for disclosures that cause harm to Australia's interests and clarify key definitions. They will also ensure that an official is only subject to an aggravated offence where their conduct could cause a higher level of harm or their personal circumstances increase their culpability. The bill delivers on the government's commitment to comprehensive and considered secrecy reform. Good government means safeguarding what must remain confidential while enabling the public to scrutinise and hold institutions to account.”
“Rather, the bill is focused on reducing the number and complexity of secrecy provisions and ensuring that the secrecy offences in the Criminal Code are appropriately calibrated to balance confidentiality and transparency. Finally, the bill would make amendments to implement recommendations agreed or agreed in principle in the government response to the INSLM secrecy review. These amendments would ensure the secrecy offences in the Criminal Code are proportionate and consistent with rule-of-law principles. Significant amendments will be made to the secrecy offences that apply to non-officials, including journalists. These amendments ensure that non-officials are subject to a higher threshold for criminal culpability than Commonwealth officials.”
“The government undertook significant analysis of secrecy offences to consider whether a public interest journalism defence could be applied to additional offences, beyond those in the Criminal Code. The majority of Commonwealth secrecy offences are targeted at government employees or those working with government, and therefore the conduct of journalists is not captured. A defence is therefore not necessary in these circumstances. For those offences that could apply to journalists, there was a clear necessity for protecting the information subject to each relevant offence. This information includes national security and law enforcement information, highly sensitive commercial and personal information or information that is already subject to tailored mechanisms for disclosures in the public interest.”
“The bill will address this type of conduct by introducing a targeted secrecy offence. This offence would apply where a Commonwealth officer or other person connected to the Commonwealth improperly communicates or uses Commonwealth information to obtain benefit or cause a detriment. An important part of these amendments is the protection of press freedoms which is integral to the functioning of an effective democracy. The bill will also legislate a new requirement that the Attorney-General consent to the prosecution of a journalist for any secrecy offence. This will operate as an additional safeguard for press freedom, requiring proper scrutiny of a prosecution before it proceeds and complementing the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions requirement that the prosecution be in the public interest.”
“The government considered whether it was necessary for a broader general secrecy offence that criminalised disclosures prejudicial to the working of government, as recommended by the 2023 secrecy review. But we have heard the views of stakeholders, who told us that such a broad offence was not warranted. And we agree. Instead, the bill seeks to address specific gaps in the secrecy framework that were identified when a former PwC partner allegedly shared confidential Commonwealth information. This type of conduct is clearly unacceptable. People who are entrusted with sensitive government information should be met with criminal sanction if they intentionally and improperly use that information for their own benefit or to the detriment of the Commonwealth or others.”
“Removing criminal liability from these provisions would be achieved through a combination of repeals and amendments to specific legislation, as well as the repeal of section 122.4 of the Criminal Code. The repeal of section 122.4, which criminalises breaches of non-disclosure duties across the statute book, will ensure that the vast majority of non-disclosure duties are instead subject to more proportionate civil and administrative sanctions. This would ensure criminal liability only applies where strictly necessary to protect sensitive information. The bill will also introduce a new targeted secrecy offence in the Criminal Code. Where a new secrecy offence is introduced, it is critical that it addresses unauthorised disclosures that have a genuine need for criminal consequence.”
“The government has undertaken extensive work, since the secrecy reviews were released, to ensure secrecy provisions are justifiable and proportionate. The 2023 Review of Secrecy Provisions identified 168 provisions that no longer required criminal liability. But we have invested further time to get these reforms right. This has required extensive consultation across government, with more than 13 departments and agencies providing their input. This has been a complex but a necessary task, as a number of these secrecy provisions are found across the statute book and in often unassuming places. I thank all the departments and agencies for their contribution to this critical work. Because of this work, the bill will remove criminal liability from almost double the number of provisions identified by the 2023 review.”
“Amendments in the bill will also implement other outstanding recommendations of the 2023 Review of Secrecy Provisions, conducted by my department, as well as the majority of recommendations agreed or agreed in principle by the government in its response to the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor's review of secrecy offences at part 5.6 of the Criminal Code. These amendments will ensure that secrecy provisions are appropriately confined, proportionate and consistent with the rule of law. The bill also builds upon the reforms to secrecy laws introduced in the Royal Commissions Legislation Amendment (Protections for Providing Information) Act 2026. These are significant and meaningful improvements to Australia's secrecy laws.”
“The Secrecy Provisions Amendment (Repealing Offences) Bill will ensure that our secrecy laws protect what truly requires protection, while avoiding unnecessary barriers to public transparency. Multiple reviews have found that Australia's secrecy framework has evolved into a complex patchwork of provisions—while some are essential, others are outdated and broader than necessary. This bill makes comprehensive reforms to our secrecy framework in response to these findings. Key among these is the repeal or removal of criminal liability from more than 300 secrecy provisions across the statute book, where it is no longer necessary. This represents a reduction of more than a third of Commonwealth secrecy provisions attracting criminal sanction.”
“I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Secrecy provisions play a vital role in protecting the integrity and security of Commonwealth information. They safeguard sensitive national security and law enforcement material, protect personal and commercial information that is entrusted to government, and ensure that government can operate effectively in the public interest. These protections are fundamental to maintaining public trust in our institutions. But secrecy must always be justified. Transparency is central to the open and accountable government necessary to support public confidence and informed democratic debate. When secrecy provisions are too complex or too broad, they risk jeopardising legitimate information-sharing and undermining the very trust they are meant to protect.”
“Whether it's strengthening deterrence and offences, or backing our law enforcement agencies and responding to new online harms, we'll keep working to protect children from this abhorrent behaviour.”
“'One Talk At A Time' is Australia's first national awareness-raising campaign aimed at preventing child sexual abuse. It encourages adults with young people in their lives to learn about the issues and have ongoing, proactive, preventative conversations. Where abuse does occur, we must ensure that offenders are caught and convicted. This means backing our law-enforcement agencies and the CDPP with the tools that they need to do their jobs. That's why the Albanese government has delivered $35 million in increased funding for the CDPP, enabling more successful prosecutions to occur. And we must support victims, which is why we've delivered a $12.2 million grant program to organisations that support children who've suffered sexual abuse and who are themselves displaying harmful sexual behaviours.”
“In my portfolio, we are delivering reforms to working-with-children checks so that our systems are stronger, more reliable and more consistent across the country. If you're banned from holding a working-with-children check in one jurisdiction, you are banned in all. I am pleased to update the House that seven out of eight jurisdictions across Australia have now legislated these reforms, and the final one jurisdiction has introduced legislation that is expected to pass in the coming months. Thirty years ago, the nature of matters prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions was very different. Today, concerningly, the most prevalent offences are for child sex exploitation, with 1,500 proven offences in 2024-25. Every member of this House would agree that the best outcome is to prevent abuse and stop it before it occurs.”
“I thank the member for her very important question. Every child has the right to be safe from sexual abuse. There wouldn't be a member of this chamber or a decent Australian who is not sickened by reports of horrific crimes against our children. The perpetrators of this abuse are despicable, and they must be stopped. Preventing child sexual abuse and protecting our most vulnerable requires a collective effort, and our government is tackling this issue on a number of fronts. Last week, the Assistant Treasurer introduced landmark law to help those who've experienced child sexual abuse to access the compensation they deserve, preventing convicted abusers from hiding their assets in superannuation. I thank the victims-survivors who advocated so strongly for these protections. They played a critical role in shaping this legislation.”
“Finally, the bill will update terminology to modernise language and provide clarity and consistency across jurisdictions. The amendments in the Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Omnibus No. 1) Bill 2026 modernise, streamline and clarify important provisions, ensuring law enforcement and related agencies can efficiently and effectively perform their critical functions. This bill is vital to ensuring our crimes legislation remains up to date and adequately supports our agencies to keep Australians safe. I commend the bill to the chamber.”
“The bill will improve the operation and efficiency of prosecution of serious drug offences, aligning Commonwealth procedures with state, territory and international approaches while retaining procedural fairness. The bill will enhance the efficient running of Australia's federal prosecution agency by clarifying and modernising the Director of Public Prosecutions Act, including by streamlining the process of managing an actual, perceived or potential conflict of interest identified by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Frameworks in the Extradition Act will be clarified and modernised to streamline processes and ensure law enforcement officers are equipped with appropriate powers to effectively perform their functions.”
“I thank members for their contribution to the debate on the Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Omnibus No. 1) Bill 2026, which supports the effective administration of government by updating and improving key pieces of crimes related legislation. This is critical to supporting law enforcement and related agencies to keep the community safe. The bill will ensure that police have the necessary powers to keep passengers safe at Australia's newest airport, in Western Sydney. It will modernise the way law enforcement agencies can apply for search warrants and assistance orders. And it will ensure that the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission continue to have appropriate access to critical powers to identify and disrupt serious technology enabled criminal activity.”
“1) Bill 2026 does just that. It modernises, streamlines and clarifies important provisions, ensuring law enforcement and related agencies can efficiently and effectively perform their critical functions. I commend the bill to the chamber. Debate adjourned.”
“Schedule 4: e xtradition a mendments Fourthly, the bill clarifies and modernises the Extradition Actto streamline processes and ensure law enforcement officers are equipped with appropriate powers to effectively perform their functions. Amendments to the Extradition Act will: These amendments will improve both the efficiency and safety of extradition processes. Schedule 5: t elecommunications a mendments Finally, the bill will amend the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act to update terminology to reflect changes in Victorian legislation in relation to Integrity Oversight Victoria. Conclusion It is vital we keep our crimes legislation under constant review and update it when required to support the efficient and effective operation of the criminal justice system. The Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Omnibus No.”
“These amendments will: Schedule 3: Director of Public Prosecutions a mendments Thirdly, the bill enhances the efficient running of Australia's federal prosecution agency by clarifying and modernising the Director of Public Prosecutions Act,including by streamlining the process for managing an actual, perceived or potential conflict of interest identified by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The amendments will enable the Attorney-General to authorise a sufficiently senior person to exercise powers and functions ordinarily exercised by the director, where it is not appropriate for the director to do so because of the conflict of interest.”
“Amendments to the Measures to Combat Serious and Organised Crime Act will ensure Australian Capital Territory police can continue to access the Commonwealth's pre-charge detention and investigation scheme. Schedule 2: Criminal Code a mendments Secondly, the bill will make critical amendments to support efficient and effective prosecutions of serious drug offences by streamlining key processes and enhancing consistency across criminal justice systems, while maintaining appropriate safeguards and ensuring procedural fairness.”
“The bill will amend the Crimes Act to: The bill will also amend the Crimes Act and the Surveillance Devices Act to ensure the AFP and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) can continue to access powers that the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor considered 'effective', 'critical' and 'powerful' capabilities to identify and disrupt serious technology enabled criminal activity. Extending these powers to 4 September 2029 will allow for substantive reforms to be considered in line with the recommendations of the monitor's review as part of broader electronic surveillance reform. In line with the monitor's recommendations, the amendments will also remove the ACIC's ability to obtain data disruption warrants to better align with its functions as a criminal intelligence agency.”
“I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Omnibus No. 1) Bill 2026 supports the effective administration of government by updating and improving key pieces of crimes-related legislation. Modernising and clarifying this legislation is critical to ensuring law enforcement and related agencies are effective and efficient in performing their important functions, while maintaining appropriate safeguards. This is critical to supporting these agencies to keep the community safe. Schedule 1: p olice p owers and w arrants Firstly, the bill will modernise law enforcement powers and procedures to allow our agencies to operate more efficiently, without reducing important safeguards on the use of these powers.”
“Secondly, as the member will be well aware, elder abuse is also addressed at a state level, and the need to have coordination in that context is vitally important. I can assure the member that this is an item that is being discussed at the Standing Council of Attorneys-General, which I chair, and we had our meeting only a few weeks ago. I thank the member very sincerely for her interest. I will engage with the member as we lead up in this process, and, of course, my door is always open for other members who wish to engage as well.”
“I thank the member for her question on a topic that is not discussed enough in our society and, I think, in our political discourse. I thank her particularly for going to the issue of the national plan for elder abuse. I can assure the member that work on that is underway. I will be in a position to make announcements on how that is progressing in the near future, but I will say two things. Firstly, elder abuse needs to be understood for what it is. It is insidious, it is often unseen and, unfortunately, it too often happens at the hands of relatives. We are now in a position where we understand the data much more fully, and that is a role that this government and this portfolio have been fulfilling, and it is one that is informing our policy processes going forward.”
“This government has full confidence in our national security and law enforcement agencies. They are the best in the world, and this government will always take advice from our agencies on how to strengthen our laws and how to implement our laws in the best ways possible. We will always work cooperatively to ensure that appropriate penalties are available for individuals or entities who would seek to sow division or do Australians harm.”
“Following advice from the relevant agencies, the Albanese government moved quickly to introduce and pass the Criminal Code Amendment (State Sponsors of Terrorism) Bill 2025 to enable the listing of a foreign state entity as a state sponsor of terrorism for the very first time. The listing of a foreign state entity enlivens a range of criminal offences, including for providing funding to, recruiting to or being a member of a listed entity. They provide both a strong deterrent and appropriate punishment for supporting an appalling organisation. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was listed by this government on 28 November 2025, and as a result criminal offences are now in effect. I want to be clear: if evidence surfaces that any person engages in conduct that breaches the Criminal Code, they should expect the full force of the law.”
“I thank the member for her question. Australia stands with the brave people of Iran in their struggle against oppression. For decades, the Iranian regime has been a destabilising force, including through its brutal acts of political violence and intimidation, and its use of proxies and cut-outs to engage in acts of terror in foreign countries. I remind the House that the Iranian regime directed at least two antisemitic attacks on Australian soil in 2024. These attacks were intended to drive fear into the Australian Jewish community, to undermine our security and to tear at our social cohesion. These were attacks on all Australians, and the government responded decisively.”
“I commend the bill to the chamber. Question agreed to. Bill read a second time. Ordered that this bill be reported to the House without amendment.”
“They should apply to statutory office holders too. The Albanese government remains committed to the principles of regulator independence, and the bill is sensitive to the independence of decision-making by statutory authorities. To this end, the amendments in this bill are not designed to fetter the independence or discretion of statutory office holders but to ensure they are accountable for their performance and conduct in the workplace. The bill will strengthen appointment safeguards for a range of statutory office holders, and the government will continue its focus on returning integrity, honesty and accountability to government, ensuring we better reflect community expectations. Through these ongoing efforts, the government will continue to ensure the Commonwealth is the model employer we expect other employers to be.”
“I thank the chamber for debate on this bill. The Albanese government is committed to ensuring integrity, honesty and accountability in government. The community expects public officials, especially those who are the subject of statutory appointments at senior levels, to perform their duties with the highest integrity. The Commonwealth Entities Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 will ensure that, where statutory office holders engage in behaviour that breaches the APS Code of Conduct, amounting to discrimination, bullying and harassment or corruption in their workplaces, they can be removed from office. The bill also ensures statutory office holders are held accountable for their performance, with unsatisfactory performance being appropriately addressed. These are standards expected of most working Australians.”
“This bill creates a clear, lawful pathway for people to provide intelligence and operationally sensitive information to a royal commission, including the current Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. I thank all my parliamentary colleagues for their contributions to this debate, and I present the revised explanatory memorandum to the House.”
“It will provide certainty for people who hold such information about the process for providing it to support the royal commission's important work, and extend clear protections and immunities to them. I commend the bill to the chamber. Debate adjourned.”
“They do not shield individuals from liability for other criminal conduct, nor do they enable improper disclosure of sensitive information outside the royal commission's remit, or outside of mutually agreed processes for that information to be provided. The amendments are balanced to ensure that those who come forward to share information in good faith and in accordance with established processes, whether voluntarily or under compulsion, are not exposed to criminal liability for doing so. Conclusion The Royal Commissions Legislation Amendment (Protections for Providing Information) Bill 2026 establishes an important framework for royal commissions to receive and handle operationally sensitive and intelligence information.”
“Defence in the Criminal Code Act 1995 The bill also makes complementary amendments to the Criminal Code, which will apply to this and future royal commissions. The bill creates a defence to general secrecy offences, where a person communicates or deals with relevant information for the purpose of communicating it to a royal commission. This amendment implements recommendation 6 of the interim report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide and part of recommendation 7 of the Attorney-General's Department's 2023 Review of Commonwealth Secrecy Provisions. This amendment also treats royal commissions in the same way as courts, tribunals and integrity agencies, which attract similar defences in the Criminal Code. Purpose of the protections These new protections are carefully calibrated.”
“This complements existing protections in the act for witnesses and reiterates the important principle that people should not face prosecution for coming forward to a royal commission. Reasonable excuse At present, some individuals may rely on secrecy provisions to decline to provide documents or information where a royal commission requires it. The bill amends the Royal Commissions Act to ensure secrecy provisions cannot be used as a reason to refuse to comply with a requirement to provide evidence from the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. This new rule will apply to intelligence and operationally sensitive information subject to an arrangement between the royal commission and the Commonwealth.”
“They will govern how information is obtained, stored used and disclosed, and will be publicly available. Where a person follows the processes set out in these arrangements, the immunity will be available. This ensures intelligence and operationally sensitive information is handled safely, while enabling the commission to carry out its statutory functions. In addition to the immunity from secrecy offences, the bill provides further safeguards for someone who brings information forward. The bill prevents both the information itself, and the fact that a person provided it, from being admitted as evidence against that person in civil or criminal proceedings relating to secrecy offences.”
“Firstly, the bill amends the Royal Commissions Act to: The bill also amends the Criminal Code to introduce a new defence to general Commonwealth secrecy offences, where the person provided the information to a royal commission. This new defence will apply to this current and all future royal commissions. Protection from liability The billcreates a clear, safe pathway for the disclosure of intelligence information and operationally sensitive information to the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. The amendments to the Royal Commissions Act provide immunity from secrecy offences where a person discloses intelligence information or operationally sensitive information, in accordance with an approved arrangement. The relevant arrangements will be agreed between the royal commission and the Commonwealth.”
“But, currently, secrecy provisions across Commonwealth legislation, especially those relating to intelligence and law enforcement, may deter people from sharing information that is essential to the royal commission's work. Uncertainty about the application of secrecy offences—which can carry significant criminal penalties—can deter potential witnesses and have a chilling effect on evidence. There is a clear and pressing need to ensure that all people, including current and former officials and members of the community, can assist a royal commission freely and without fear of prosecution. The framework in the bill delivers that certainty. This bill is in two parts.”
“Potential witnesses who wish to voluntarily provide relevant information to the royal commission should be supported to do so within an appropriate framework—without the concern that they may be breaking other laws by cooperating. The parliament needs to support them to tell the royal commission what it needs to know. The Royal Commissions Legislation Amendment (Protections for Providing Information) Bill 2026 strengthens this essential flow of information. It ensures that people can assist this and future royal commissions with clarity and confidence, and without fear of penalty. Current challenges Secrecy offences play an important role in protecting our national security and other critical national interests.”
“I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Royal commissions are the highest form of independent inquiry in Australia, and as such it is important they have strong powers and immunities available to complete their work. Accordingly, this bill will establish a framework for royal commissions to receive and handle operationally sensitive and intelligence information. The framework will be an enduring one and will be available to royal commissions prescribed by regulations. Right now, the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion is examining critical matters related to national security, intelligence operations and law enforcement. To investigate and report on these matters of national importance, it is necessary for the royal commission to have access to complete and candid information.”
“Others include making sure that we had the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme and implemented its findings, and ensuring that in other portfolios we strengthened our anti-money-laundering regime through the passage of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Act. What this points to is the important work not only of the commission but also of oversight. But I take on board the honourable member's comments. They have come from a sincere place. There is much more work to do, and we support the NACC in undertaking that work.”
“As I said, I appreciate the honourable member's ongoing involvement in this area, but it does reflect also a number of important pieces of work that this government has delivered on integrity. But I do say, in all sincerity, to the member there is much more to do. There is much more to do in a lot of these areas. Legislating a powerful, independent and transparent NACC was an important role. Introducing a new Commonwealth Fraud and Corruption Control Framework, imposing stronger anticorruption obligations on all Commonwealth agencies, is another of them.”
“The member also raises issues regarding the NACC's work and some of its findings. This government was elected on a platform of legislating an independent anticorruption commission with strong oversight. That oversight is working as intended. We honoured, as I said, that commitment, and it will interest the House to know the following. Since it commenced operations, the commission has received over 6,000 referrals. It is currently conducting 30 preliminary inquiries and 35 corruption investigations. Since 1 July 2023, there have been 11 convictions resulting from commission investigations, and there are a further four matters currently before the courts. The commission publishes regular updates about its work on its website, and I encourage all members to avail themselves of that information at nacc.gov.au.”