By Zac de Silva in Canberra

The head of Australia’s anti-corruption body has resigned two years before the end of his term amid long-running questions about potential conflicts of interest.

National Anti-Corruption Commissioner Paul Brereton said the ongoing focus on personal matters was drawing attention away from the agency’s work.

The former war crimes investigator had faced repeated questions about potential conflicts of interest because of his ties to the military and his service in the army reserves.

“I believe that the commission’s success is paramount, and not due to any single person,” Mr Brereton said.

“While I will continue to resist any suggestion of impropriety, I have decided that it is time, now that the commission is established and functioning with quality staff and good processes, to step aside and allow a new commissioner to lead it into the next phase of its development into a key and respected component of the integrity architecture of the Commonwealth.”

In October 2025, he stepped away from all corruption referrals related to defence to avoid any perceived conflict of interest.

He has also been criticised for his decision not to investigate referrals related to the robodebt scandal, which was later overturned.

Mr Brereton’s resignation will take effect on July 6, just over three years after he was appointed to a five-year term.

He’s scheduled to face questions at a parliamentary hearing on Tuesday.

In his statement, Mr Brereton said the mere existence of the National Anti-Corruption Commission had changed behaviour across the public service.

That had been reinforced by education programs and investigations, he said.

Of the 7264 referrals received in the past three years, more than 92 per cent had been finalised, with 34 investigations under way.

Some of those probes were into current or former politicians and their staff, senior public servants, contractors, consultants and a grants scheme, Mr Brereton said.

The government would choose a new commissioner through a merit-based process, Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said.

“I thank Commissioner Brereton for his service as Commissioner of the National Anti-Corruption Commission following his appointment in 2023,” she said.

“Commissioner Brereton has made an invaluable contribution to the establishment of the NACC as its inaugural commissioner.”

In a media statement, ACT independent senator David Pocock welcomed Commissioner Brereton’s decision to stand aside.

“There have been too many perceived conflicts of interest, too many decisions out of step with community expectations and the need for the NACC Inspector to intervene too many times,” Senator Pocock said.

“I hope the Albanese government takes this moment to reform key aspects of the NACC’s operation, including making it easier to hold public hearings.

“The appointment of the next commissioner must occur through an independent and merits-based process that provides Australians with transparency. And it’s on the attorney-general to ensure this is the case.

“We need the next commissioner to help restore confidence in the organisation and for it to better fulfil the vision we had for it as a beacon of integrity.”