This is the Commission’s monthly update for May, providing visibility to the media and the public on our key activities and work underway.
As at 29 April, we are conducting 29 preliminary investigations and 36 corruption investigations. Four of our matters are currently before the courts, and since our commencement 11 convictions have been secured as a result of investigations we have commenced or continued.
Charges laid and guilty plea in Operation Preston
A former Department of Home Affairs staff member has pleaded guilty to dishonesty offences relating to their former employment following a joint investigation with Home Affairs. The matter has now been referred for sentencing in the ACT Supreme Court on 10 September 2026.
The criminal offending was identified during Operation Preston, a joint investigation commenced by the former Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity (ACLEI) and Home Affairs. The NACC took on responsibility for this and other ACLEI investigations on commencing operations on 1 July 2023, and the majority of this investigation was conducted following that date. A brief of evidence submitted to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions resulted in the charges being laid.
Charges relating to two other staff members are currently before the courts, and we will not be providing further comment at this time.
Ethical decision-making guide published
We have published a new guide on our website to support public officials to make decisions that serve the public interest and maintain public trust.
The guide provides practical advice to support public officials at all levels reduce the risk of decision-making being corrupted. It sets out 7 ethical decision-making practices:
- maintain impartiality
- consider and consult
- decide based on evidence and merits
- comply with applicable laws
- don’t make assumptions about desired outcomes
- anticipate scrutiny
- record reasons for decisions.
Read the guide on our website.
Resignation of Deputy Commissioner Nicole Rose
Deputy Commissioner Nicole Rose will be leaving the Commission to relocate overseas. Deputy Commissioner Rose’s final day with the Commission will be later this month, before commencing a period of leave. She has formally tendered her resignation to the Governor-General as required by the NACC Act.
Deputy Commissioner Rose has brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Commission, especially in overseeing the NACC’s corruption prevention, education and strategic intelligence functions, including the development of the Commonwealth Integrity Survey and the delivery of countless presentations and engagements across the Commonwealth public sector.
The Commission would like to thank her for her substantial contribution as one of our inaugural Deputy Commissioners.
Deputy Commissioner Kylie Kilgour on The Westminster Tradition podcast
Deputy Commissioner Kylie Kilgour appeared on a recent episode of The Westminster Tradition podcast to discuss the Operation Myrtleford report about the investigation into the 6 individuals referred by the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme.
The discussion ranged from why the findings matter, what they mean for people working across the Commonwealth public sector, managing risk under pressure, giving clear advice, navigating organisational culture and understanding the difference between corrupt conduct and serious maladministration.
Listen to the podcast online or on your preferred podcast platform.
APSACC workshop program to be published
The Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference (APSACC), to be hosted by the NACC in Canberra from 7-9 September 2026, is fast approaching, with the workshop program for Day 1 to be published this week.
Participants will have the choice of full-day and half-day workshops, with topics ranging from deep dives into corruption, best practice in Australian and Pacific anti-corruption agencies, and prioritising corruption complaints.
APSACC is Australia's leading anti-corruption event, attracting industry leaders and experts from across state and territory, federal, public and private sectors, as well as around the world.
Register or find out more on the APSACC 2026 website.