National Anti-Corruption Commission confirms MPs under investigation

The federal anti-corruption watchdog has confirmed it is investigating six cases involving current or former MPs or senators. The weekly update from the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) confirmed that out of the 26 corruption investigations that began during the 2023-24 reporting period, six probes concerned the conduct of current or former parliamentarians. Three cases are also related to the conduct of current or former parliamentary staff, another seven concern current or former senior executive officials, eight investigations are into law enforcement officials and four concern consultants or contractors. While Wednesday’s weekly update contained a summary of 29 investigations – 26 of which began between July 1, 2023 and June 30 this year – it specified that “most corruption investigations do not ultimately result in a finding of corrupt conduct”. From July 1, 2024 to September 8, 459 referrals were made, with the commission also obtaining two court convictions. Six matters are also before the courts. On Monday, former Serco officer Dean Heywood was jailed to two years and six months for his role in aiding a Melbourne immigration detainee access drugs in exchange for payments totalling $11,150 between November 2021 to February 2022. Heywood pleaded guilty to one charge of abuse of public office and was convicted following the joint investigation between the Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity, which transitioned to the NACC after it was established in July 2023. Wednesday’s figures were released ahead of the NACC’s inaugural annual report. The independent body has been tasked with investigating and detecting serious and systemic corruption in the commonwealth sector.