NCC architect demands an update on the robodebt investigation, claiming the anti-corruption agency has been overly secretive.

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div>An architect of the National Anti-Corruption Commission has urged for a public update on the investigation regarding the illicit robodebt scheme, cautioning that community faith in the Commission and its Commissioner, Paul Brereton, hangs in the balance.

The independent MP, Helen Haines, who contributed to the legislation establishing the Nacc and has been a member of a parliamentary oversight committee, lamented the Commission’s secrecy during its early operational years, particularly concerning its investigation of the Coalition’s welfare payment recovery scheme.

Approximately 440,000 Centrelink recipients were pursued over allegedly erroneous payments, stemming from flawed income averaging algorithms.

Haines expressed disappointment that the Commission has not been transparent about its reversal on investigating six individuals referred by the robodebt royal commission, following an independent review of their initial refusal to investigate.

In February, the Nacc announced investigations into five public servants and one public official to determine if they had engaged in corrupt conduct.

“It took 11 months for the Nacc to decide it wouldn’t proceed with an investigation,” Haines criticized.

“Then we saw a highly critical report from the Nacc inspector, prompting this review. Months passed before deciding if the initial decision would be reconsidered by an independent delegate, and we still haven’t heard anything. That’s disappointing,” Haines added.

The Nacc’s initial decision not to investigate was widely criticized, with Inspector Gail Furness disclosing that she had received over 1,000 complaints.

Furness released a report in October 2024 stating that Brereton was “affected by apprehended bias” and should have excused himself from relevant decision processes and limited his exposure to pertinent factual information.