Nacc watchdog ends complaint investigations into Brereton after his resignation
Sarah Basford Canales
Two investigations into complaints made against the former national anti-corruption commissioner, Paul Brereton, will discontinue after its watchdog stated it could not “justify such expenditure”.
In a statement released on Wednesday morning, the Nacc inspector, Gail Furness, said she has decided to end the ongoing investigations due to Brereton’s resignation and her belief that the “systemic issues which had been identified have been satisfactorily addressed”.
Brereton, the Nacc’s inaugural commissioner, announced he would step down from the role three years into the five-year posting during a Senate estimates hearing in May.
Former national anti-corruption commissioner Paul Brereton. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP
The anti-corruption chief said two investigations into his conduct in the role were “drawing attention away from the commission’s core purpose of strengthening integrity”.
One of the Nacc inspector’s investigations into Brereton arose after it was revealed the commissioner, who was once the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force (IGADF), had not appropriately declared conflicts of interest in defence-related referrals as well as his ongoing role with the new IGADF.
Furness said many of the details relating to the actions were publicly known and a legal issue regarding whether Brereton had contravened public governance laws was moot following his resignation.
The Nacc inspector added that though she had received 98 defence-related referrals made to the Nacc from its establishment until Brereton made the conflict of interest declaration in October 2025, she had not completed her analysis of them.
Nevertheless, Furness concluded changes to the Nacc regarding conflict of interest declarations left her satisfied there were no lingering systemic issues.
Read more:
Updated at 22.15 EDT
Key events
Penry Buckley
Regional services in Vic, NSW remain affected by outage
In addition to the suspension of Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) services, regional services in Victoria and NSW continue to be affected by this morning’s outage.
In Victoria, all V/Line services remain suspended as of an update at 10.20 this morning, with the operator advising of “very limited” replacement coach services and advising passengers to defer travel where possible.
In NSW, buses are now replacing trains between Campbelltown and Moss Vale/Goulburn on the Southern Highlands line and Newcastle Interchange and Maitland on the Hunter line.
A spokesperson for Queensland Rail said its services remain unaffected, as do Adelaide Metro and Transperth services.
ShareSarah Basford Canales
Details of Nacc inspector’s incomplete investigation to remain hidden over concerns for complainant’s safety
Following on from the previous post on the National Anti-Corruption Commission (Nacc) inspector’s statement just now …
Details of another incomplete investigation into the conduct of former Nacc chief, Paul Brereton, will remain largely hidden over concerns about the complainant’s safety and that it was contested.
The Nacc inspector, Gail Furness, said the complaint referred to her in December 2025 related to the conduct of Brereton on one occasion relating to two separate Nacc operations.
Furness said she decided to commence the investigation after receiving Brereton’s response to the allegation after April this year. She said lawyers for Brereton “contested the validity of my decision to conduct this complaint investigation and prepare or publish a report”.
She added that “individuals associated with the occasion have told me of their concerns about their and their families’ safety if details of the allegation and surrounding events were disclosed publicly”.
On that basis, Furness said the publication of a final report into the matter would be “significantly curtailed” and that was a “strong factor in not continuing the complaint investigation”.
The Nacc inspector concluded that Brereton’s resignation meant the Nacc would no longer be “unnecessarily hampered by continued scrutiny of [Brereton’s] actions” and that both investigations should cease.
Furness said:
double quotation markI cannot justify such expenditure in circumstances where Commissioner Brereton has resigned and, in my opinion, the systemic issues which had been identified have been satisfactorily addressed.
Brereton said via a statement in May:
double quotation markWhile 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.
Updated at 22.21 EDT
Nacc watchdog ends complaint investigations into Brereton after his resignationSarah Basford Canales
Two investigations into complaints made against the former national anti-corruption commissioner, Paul Brereton, will discontinue after its watchdog stated it could not “justify such expenditure”.
In a statement released on Wednesday morning, the Nacc inspector, Gail Furness, said she has decided to end the ongoing investigations due to Brereton’s resignation and her belief that the “systemic issues which had been identified have been satisfactorily addressed”.
Brereton, the Nacc’s inaugural commissioner, announced he would step down from the role three years into the five-year posting during a Senate estimates hearing in May.
Former national anti-corruption commissioner Paul Brereton. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP
The anti-corruption chief said two investigations into his conduct in the role were “drawing attention away from the commission’s core purpose of strengthening integrity”.
One of the Nacc inspector’s investigations into Brereton arose after it was revealed the commissioner, who was once the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force (IGADF), had not appropriately declared conflicts of interest in defence-related referrals as well as his ongoing role with the new IGADF.
Furness said many of the details relating to the actions were publicly known and a legal issue regarding whether Brereton had contravened public governance laws was moot following his resignation.
The Nacc inspector added that though she had received 98 defence-related referrals made to the Nacc from its establishment until Brereton made the conflict of interest declaration in October 2025, she had not completed her analysis of them.
Nevertheless, Furness concluded changes to the Nacc regarding conflict of interest declarations left her satisfied there were no lingering systemic issues.
Read more:
Updated at 22.15 EDT
Cross-country rail services suspended after Telstra outagePenry Buckley
The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC), which operates national freight and passenger rail services across the country, has suspended all services on its 9,500km network.
ARTC operates interstate services like the Ghan between Adelaide and Darwin, as well as XPT services which connect Sydney to the ACT, Melbourne and Queensland, and the Indian Pacific, which runs all the way from Sydney to Perth.
The operator has made the decision to suspend all services after this morning’s Telstra outage, which has left its field teams without the ability to make or receive emergency calls.
In a statement, a spokesperson for ARTC said:
double quotation markA nationwide telecommunications outage affecting Telstra’s 4G network is impacting communications used across the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) rail network.
As a safety precaution, ARTC has implemented established emergency protocols and safely brought rail services on the network to a stand while the telecommunications outage is resolved. … At this stage, there is no confirmed timeframe for restoration of telecommunications services. Once communications are restored, it will take some time for the network to safely return to normal operations.
XPT services are among those suspended due to a telecommunications outage. Photograph: Stephen Dwyer/AlamyShare
Updated at 22.03 EDT
Josh Butler
Taylor questions ‘connection’ between Telstra outage and China missile test
Angus Taylor has demanded the government “front up” and explain the Telstra outage to Australians.
At the same time Taylor is at a press conference in Darwin, Anthony Albanese is speaking in Brisbane, taking numerous questions on the issue.
The opposition leader has also questioned whether there was any “connection” to the Chinese missile test in the Pacific this week. Telstra and Albanese have said they have no evidence of malicious activity related to the signal outage, and Taylor did not offer any.
Taylor said there were “many questions” about the Telstra incident, and called on Anika Wells – the communications minister, who is currently on leave – to return from her time off.
“They need, the minister needs to explain. The government needs to explain what has gone on here, why has this happened, what they’re going to do to make sure it’s fixed and never happens again,” Taylor said.
Opposition leader Angus Taylor. Photograph: Darren England/AAP
Taylor claimed that among the “many questions Australians are asking” was any link to China.
double quotation markWe saw a provocative and unwelcome missile launch from the PLA yesterday, and I can understand why Australians are drawing that connection. Now, I don’t know whether there’s any connection or not, I have no idea. But it’s no wonder Australians are starting to ask questions like that, including questions about triple zero and what’s going on there.
Updated at 21.58 EDT
PM says Telstra has indicated outage is not malicious
Anthony Albanese said Telstra has indicated there is no evidence of today’s outage being malicious.
In a press conference this morning the prime minister acknowledged the outage is “deeply concerning” and “disruptive”. He said:
double quotation markTelstra are investigating but we’re working closely with them.
The triple-zero custodian is in constant contact with Telstra [and] with emergency services. And investigations are under way at this stage.
What Telstra have indicated to the government is that they don’t see this as being, there’s no evidence of it being malicious, but those investigations are under way.
Prime minister Anthony Albanese. Photograph: Hollie Adams/ReutersShare
Updated at 21.39 EDT
Patrick Commins
RBA navigates new era of global supply shocks
The Reserve Bank is attempting to thread a path between not overreacting to what could be a temporary oil supply shock while guarding against the risk that a high inflation mindset does not take hold, the central bank’s chief economist says.
Speaking at the Australian Conference of Economists this morning, assistant governor Sarah Hunter explained the difficult trade-offs facing the monetary policy board, which has hiked rates three times this year.
The global oil shock has pushed up prices – and inflation – while also weighing on demand. This type of situation put the RBA’s dual mandate of full employment and low and stable inflation “into conflict”.
double quotation markAll else equal, a persistently higher outlook for inflation suggests that interest rates should be raised. But at the same time, weaker economic activity … suggests that interest rates should be cut, all other things equal.
Reserve Bank of Australia assistant governor Sarah Hunter. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP
Some supply shocks can be “narrow and short-lived” – such as the surge in banana prices after Cyclone Larry in 2006, and so require no policy response.
But the Covid-19 shock and the more recent global oil disruption threatens more persistent and wider effects
“Some types of economic disturbances, or shocks, will put our mandate outcomes into conflict by pushing up inflation while also weighing on demand and activity,” Hunter said.
double quotation markThis trade-off cannot be avoided. A central bank can only decide how to balance the impact on inflation and activity, while ensuring that temporary shocks do not become persistent inflation.
The bank’s inflation-fighting credibility – through its actions and rhetoric – were important weapons in the fight to avoid inflation expectations getting out of control, she said.
Financial markets are placing a less than 50% chance of a fourth rate hike by the November meeting.
Updated at 21.36 EDT
Have you been affected by the Telstra outage?
Tell us how. Contact: jordyn.beazley@theguardian.com
Updated at 21.03 EDT
NSW Fire and Rescue still operating during Telstra outage
A spokesperson for Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has confirmed it is still receiving and responding to triple-zero calls during the Telstra outage. They said:
double quotation markFRNSW crews are communicating through our Connected Firefighter program’s ‘vehicle as a node’ satellite technology, where necessary.
We are liaising with Telstra and monitoring the situation.
Updated at 21.01 EDT
Andrew Messenger
Audit finds 44% of released prisoners return to Queensland jails within two years
Queensland jails lack an effective approach to rehabilitating prisoners, with 44% of released detainees returning to jail within two years, according to an audit.
The statistics are included in a report by the state’s audit office tabled in parliament yesterday.
Queensland Corrective Service “does not effectively plan for and facilitate the rehabilitation and reintegration of its prisoners (into society)”, it found.
It pointed to a lack of an effective approach to case managing prisoners, a process of individual assessment of a prisoner to identify supports required to prevent them reoffending.
The service developed a framework for case management in 2019 but it has only been rolled out in nine of 20 correctional centres, representing fewer than a quarter of prisoners.
“While QCS sought to fully implement case management across all centres, it has been unable to do so due to factors such as prisoner numbers, resourcing, and funding constraints,” the audit said.
The audit found that less than half of all prisoners that left custody in 2024–25 received prerelease support, such as help setting up bank accounts and support accessing services and legal advice.
The audit office recommended the department should ensure “all prisoners get a risk and needs assessment on entry to custody to inform their rehabilitation and reintegration support”.
The Department of Corrective Services said it accepted all the report’s recommendations.
Borallon correctional centre in Brisbane. Photograph: Jono Searle/AAPShare
Updated at 21.00 EDT
Man arrested after woman found stabbed to death at Melbourne home
A man has been arrested and is in hospital under police guard after a woman was found stabbed to death at a Melbourne home.
Police were called to a property on a leafy residential street in the outer-eastern suburb of Vermont just before 10pm on Tuesday after reports a woman had been stabbed inside a home.
When officers arrived, a 39-year-old woman was found dead at the scene.
A man of the same age was arrested and treated by ambulance paramedics before being taken to hospital under police guard. Police believe the man and woman know each other.
“The investigation into the circumstances of the incident is ongoing,” Victoria police said in a statement.
– AAP
Updated at 20.43 EDT
Caitlin Cassidy
Turnitin report suggests over half of uni students use AI in their assignments
More than half of university students are using artificial intelligence in their assignment submissions, a new report suggests.
The report, released by plagiarism detection service Turnitin, found 53% of higher education submissions in Australia had some AI present. One in 10 submissions were more than 80% composed of AI.
The rates were similar to the United Kingdom but lower than in the US, where 19% of papers contained more than 80% AI.
The vast majority of Australian universities use Turnitin for academic integrity purposes, including the University of Melbourne, Monash University and the Australian National University.
The use of plagiarism dropped significantly among primary and secondary students, the report found, with just three in 10 submissions containing some AI and 4.6% composed of more than 80% AI.
You can read more about how the university sector is grappling with AI here:
Updated at 20.26 EDT
Telstra conducting welfare checks on triple-zero calls
Ackland said it has been conducting welfare checks on any triple zero calls that have failed.
He said:
double quotation markTriple zero calls follow a different settings in our network, and therefore they were not impacted in the same way.
We have seen a small number of reports that we are investigating, and as part of our standard process, which has been operating through the night and through this morning, we conduct welfare checks when any call to triple zero fails, and we’ve been doing this.
We do ask customers not to test and try out triple zero unless you need to, unless you need triple zero.
Updated at 20.17 EDT
Telstra yet to work out cause of outage
Ackland said Telstra does not yet know the root cause of the outage, which he said was national but intermittent.
He said:
double quotation markWe don’t yet know the root cause. We are investigating that urgently, and we’ll provide updates as soon as we get more information about the root cause. We know that customers across the whole community rely on our connectivity, and this network challenge has caused many issues, and it’s been a big disruption to many people’s days, and we apologise for that.
It has been intermittent, but it has been national, so it doesn’t matter where you’re located. It is not around particular state, it’s not about regional metro.
Updated at 20.15 EDT
‘Customers who are having trouble making a call, I encourage you to try again,’ says Telstra CFO
Telstra’s CFO, Michael Ackland, is speaking to reporters now about the outage.
He said:
double quotation markAt approximately 4.30am this morning, we identified an issue affecting some mobile calls and data services, so the issue is impacting a number of nodes within our network that keep time across the mobile network, and when these nodes are not operating as expected, which is what has occurred, other parts of the network can be affected, resulting in intermittent issues with some mobile calls and data sessions.
We’ve been able now to restore some of these nodes, but that will take time for that to reset across all the 1000s of servers across the network.
We believe that just under 90% of calls and data services at this point are now working correctly, so customers who are having trouble making a call, I encourage you to try again, and depending on how the call is routed through the network, it may connect successfully on another attempt.
If you’re at home or in the office, and you have access to wifi, we encourage you to use that if you are connected to wifi services, such as WhatsApp messaging, or Teams, or Facebook, or Facetime.
Telstra CFO Michael Ackland speaks to media in Melbourne on Wednesday morning. Photograph: Jay Kogler/AAPShare
Updated at 20.47 EDT