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This is the Commission’s monthly update for September, in line with our commitment to transparent communication regarding our key activities. 

As at 2 September, we are conducting 18 preliminary investigations and 33 corruption investigations. Four of our cases are currently before the courts, and since our commencement 12 convictions have been secured as a result of investigations we have conducted.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission's operational data as at 2 September 2026. Eighteen preliminary investigations are underway, 33 corruption investigations are underway, 11 joint corruption investigations are underway, 4 matters are before the court, 29 investigations by other agencies are being overseen or monitored by the Commission, and 448 referrals have been received this financial year.

Conviction recorded in Operation Lota

On 20 August, Allen Zhu, a senior manager of a renewable energy technology company, was convicted and sentenced for the attempted bribery of a Commonwealth public official.

Mr Zhu pleaded guilty to charges of offering a secret commission to an agent under section 442BA of the Queensland Criminal Code 1899. He was sentenced to a term of 12 months imprisonment, immediately suspended, after having spent 26 days in custody.

The conviction stems from Operation Lota, a joint investigation by the Queensland Police Service, the NACC and the Australian Federal Police into an incident where Mr Zhu offered a Commonwealth public official $20,000 in cash hidden inside a bag of tea to expedite the product approval process for a Commonwealth rebate scheme.

See: Media release: Senior manager sentenced over $20,000 tea bag bribe attempt

This is the 12th recorded conviction in investigations we have commenced or continued since we began operations. A further 4 matters are currently before the courts.

A man in handcuffs is led away, flanked by law enforcement officials.

Commonwealth Integrity Survey now open

The second Commonwealth Integrity Survey is currently open for Commonwealth public sector staff members to provide anonymous feedback about corruption risks, vulnerabilities and the integrity maturity in their organisation.

The survey closes on 25 September. Following the completion of the survey, we provide each agency head with a report on their agency’s results to help them identify areas to target their corruption prevention and integrity efforts. We will also publish a report combining the results of all participating agencies.

For more information, see Commonwealth Integrity Survey, or watch Acting Deputy Commissioner Jamie Lowe’s message to the Commonwealth public sector.

A promotional banner encouraging public sector staff members to take part in the NACC's Commonwealth Integrity Survey.

Corporate Plan 2026–30 published

On 24 August, we published our Corporate Plan 2026–30, which identifies our purpose, guiding principles, operating context and performance measures over the coming period.

The plan also details our work across 5 key areas of activity:

The NACC's five key areas of activity: detect corruption and help the Commonwealth public sector build stronger skills to identify it; receive and assess referrals of alleged corrupt conduct; investigate issues that could involve serious or systemic corrupt conduct, either alone or with partner agencies; refer allegations of corrupt conduct to other Commonwealth agencies for their own investigation; educate the public sector to prevent corruption and build a strong culture of integrity.

Read the Corporate Plan 2026–30 for more details.