![\"Sarah](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1783477450_284_Sarah_Basford_Canales.png\")
Sarah Basford Canales<\/p>\nNacc watchdog ends complaint investigations into Brereton after his resignationSarah Basford Canales<\/p>\n
Two investigations into complaints made against the former national anti-corruption commissioner, Paul Brereton, will discontinue after its watchdog stated it could not \u201cjustify such expenditure\u201d.<\/p>\n
In a statement released on Wednesday morning, the Nacc inspector, Gail Furness, said she has decided to end the ongoing investigations due to Brereton\u2019s resignation and her belief that the \u201csystemic issues which had been identified have been satisfactorily addressed\u201d.<\/p>\n
Brereton, the Nacc\u2019s inaugural commissioner, announced he would step down from the role three years into the five-year posting during a Senate estimates hearing in May.<\/p>\n
![\"Former](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1783477451_833_3953.jpg\")
Former national anti-corruption commissioner Paul Brereton. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAP<\/p>\n
The anti-corruption chief said two investigations into his conduct in the role were \u201cdrawing attention away from the commission\u2019s core purpose of strengthening integrity\u201d.<\/p>\n
One of the Nacc inspector\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Furness concluded changes to the Nacc regarding conflict of interest declarations left her satisfied there were no lingering systemic issues.<\/p>\n
Read more:<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.15 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Regional services in Vic, NSW remain affected by outage<\/p>\n 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\u2019s outage.<\/p>\n In Victoria, all V\/Line services remain suspended as of an update at 10.20 this morning, with the operator advising of \u201cvery limited\u201d replacement coach services and advising passengers to defer travel where possible.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n A spokesperson for Queensland Rail said its services remain unaffected, as do Adelaide Metro and Transperth services.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> Details of Nacc inspector\u2019s incomplete investigation to remain hidden over concerns for complainant\u2019s safety<\/p>\n Following on from the previous post on the National Anti-Corruption Commission (Nacc) inspector\u2019s statement just now \u2026<\/p>\n Details of another incomplete investigation into the conduct of former Nacc chief, Paul Brereton, will remain largely hidden over concerns about the complainant\u2019s safety and that it was contested.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Furness said she decided to commence the investigation after receiving Brereton\u2019s response to the allegation after April this year. She said lawyers for Brereton \u201ccontested the validity of my decision to conduct this complaint investigation and prepare or publish a report\u201d.<\/p>\n She added that \u201cindividuals associated with the occasion have told me of their concerns about their and their families\u2019 safety if details of the allegation and surrounding events were disclosed publicly\u201d.<\/p>\n On that basis, Furness said the publication of a final report into the matter would be \u201csignificantly curtailed\u201d and that was a \u201cstrong factor in not continuing the complaint investigation\u201d.<\/p>\n The Nacc inspector concluded that Brereton\u2019s resignation meant the Nacc would no longer be \u201cunnecessarily hampered by continued scrutiny of [Brereton\u2019s] actions\u201d and that both investigations should cease.<\/p>\n Furness said:<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Brereton said via a statement in May:<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.21 EDT<\/p>\n Nacc watchdog ends complaint investigations into Brereton after his resignation Two investigations into complaints made against the former national anti-corruption commissioner, Paul Brereton, will discontinue after its watchdog stated it could not \u201cjustify such expenditure\u201d.<\/p>\n In a statement released on Wednesday morning, the Nacc inspector, Gail Furness, said she has decided to end the ongoing investigations due to Brereton\u2019s resignation and her belief that the \u201csystemic issues which had been identified have been satisfactorily addressed\u201d.<\/p>\n Brereton, the Nacc\u2019s inaugural commissioner, announced he would step down from the role three years into the five-year posting during a Senate estimates hearing in May.<\/p>\n Former national anti-corruption commissioner Paul Brereton. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAP<\/p>\n The anti-corruption chief said two investigations into his conduct in the role were \u201cdrawing attention away from the commission\u2019s core purpose of strengthening integrity\u201d.<\/p>\n One of the Nacc inspector\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, Furness concluded changes to the Nacc regarding conflict of interest declarations left her satisfied there were no lingering systemic issues.<\/p>\n Read more:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.15 EDT<\/p>\n Cross-country rail services suspended after Telstra outage 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The operator has made the decision to suspend all services after this morning\u2019s Telstra outage, which has left its field teams without the ability to make or receive emergency calls.<\/p>\n In a statement, a spokesperson for ARTC said:<\/p>\n double quotation markA nationwide telecommunications outage affecting Telstra\u2019s 4G network is impacting communications used across the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) rail network.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n XPT services are among those suspended due to a telecommunications outage. Photograph: Stephen Dwyer\/AlamyShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.03 EDT<\/p>\n Taylor questions \u2018connection\u2019 between Telstra outage and China missile test<\/p>\n Angus Taylor has demanded the government \u201cfront up\u201d and explain the Telstra outage to Australians.<\/p>\n At the same time Taylor is at a press conference in Darwin, Anthony Albanese is speaking in Brisbane, taking numerous questions on the issue.<\/p>\n The opposition leader has also questioned whether there was any \u201cconnection\u201d 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.<\/p>\n Taylor said there were \u201cmany questions\u201d about the Telstra incident, and called on Anika Wells \u2013 the communications minister, who is currently on leave \u2013 to return from her time off.<\/p>\n \u201cThey need, the minister needs to explain. The government needs to explain what has gone on here, why has this happened, what they\u2019re going to do to make sure it\u2019s fixed and never happens again,\u201d Taylor said.<\/p>\n Opposition leader Angus Taylor. Photograph: Darren England\/AAP<\/p>\n Taylor claimed that among the \u201cmany questions Australians are asking\u201d was any link to China.<\/p>\n 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\u2019t know whether there\u2019s any connection or not, I have no idea. But it\u2019s no wonder Australians are starting to ask questions like that, including questions about triple zero and what\u2019s going on there.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.58 EDT<\/p>\n PM says Telstra has indicated outage is not malicious<\/p>\n Anthony Albanese said Telstra has indicated there is no evidence of today\u2019s outage being malicious.<\/p>\n In a press conference this morning the prime minister acknowledged the outage is \u201cdeeply concerning\u201d and \u201cdisruptive\u201d. He said:<\/p>\n double quotation markTelstra are investigating but we\u2019re working closely with them.<\/p>\n The triple-zero custodian is in constant contact with Telstra [and] with emergency services. And investigations are under way at this stage.<\/p>\n What Telstra have indicated to the government is that they don\u2019t see this as being, there\u2019s no evidence of it being malicious, but those investigations are under way.<\/p>\n Prime minister Anthony Albanese. Photograph: Hollie Adams\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.39 EDT<\/p>\n RBA navigates new era of global supply shocks<\/p>\n 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\u2019s chief economist says.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The global oil shock has pushed up prices \u2013 and inflation \u2013 while also weighing on demand. This type of situation put the RBA\u2019s dual mandate of full employment and low and stable inflation \u201cinto conflict\u201d.<\/p>\n 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 \u2026 suggests that interest rates should be cut, all other things equal.<\/p>\n Reserve Bank of Australia assistant governor Sarah Hunter. Photograph: Lukas Coch\/AAP<\/p>\n Some supply shocks can be \u201cnarrow and short-lived\u201d \u2013 such as the surge in banana prices after Cyclone Larry in 2006, and so require no policy response.<\/p>\n But the Covid-19 shock and the more recent global oil disruption threatens more persistent and wider effects<\/p>\n \u201cSome types of economic disturbances, or shocks, will put our mandate outcomes into conflict by pushing up inflation while also weighing on demand and activity,\u201d Hunter said.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The bank\u2019s inflation-fighting credibility \u2013 through its actions and rhetoric \u2013 were important weapons in the fight to avoid inflation expectations getting out of control, she said.<\/p>\n Financial markets are placing a less than 50% chance of a fourth rate hike by the November meeting.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.36 EDT<\/p>\n Have you been affected by the Telstra outage?<\/p>\n Tell us how. Contact: jordyn.beazley@theguardian.com<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.03 EDT<\/p>\n NSW Fire and Rescue still operating during Telstra outage<\/p>\n 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:<\/p>\n double quotation markFRNSW crews are communicating through our Connected Firefighter program\u2019s \u2018vehicle as a node\u2019 satellite technology, where necessary.<\/p>\n We are liaising with Telstra and monitoring the situation.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.01 EDT<\/p>\n Audit finds 44% of released prisoners return to Queensland jails within two years<\/p>\n Queensland jails lack an effective approach to rehabilitating prisoners, with 44% of released detainees returning to jail within two years, according to an audit.<\/p>\n The statistics are included in a report by the state\u2019s audit office tabled in parliament yesterday.<\/p>\n Queensland Corrective Service \u201cdoes not effectively plan for and facilitate the rehabilitation and reintegration of its prisoners (into society)\u201d, it found.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile 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,\u201d the audit said.<\/p>\n The audit found that less than half of all prisoners that left custody in 2024\u201325 received prerelease support, such as help setting up bank accounts and support accessing services and legal advice.<\/p>\n The audit office recommended the department should ensure \u201call prisoners get a risk and needs assessment on entry to custody to inform their rehabilitation and reintegration support\u201d.<\/p>\n The Department of Corrective Services said it accepted all the report\u2019s recommendations.<\/p>\n Borallon correctional centre in Brisbane. Photograph: Jono Searle\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.00 EDT<\/p>\n Man arrested after woman found stabbed to death at Melbourne home<\/p>\n A man has been arrested and is in hospital under police guard after a woman was found stabbed to death at a Melbourne home.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n When officers arrived, a 39-year-old woman was found dead at the scene.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThe investigation into the circumstances of the incident is ongoing,\u201d Victoria police said in a statement.<\/p>\n \u2013 AAP<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.43 EDT<\/p>\n Turnitin report suggests over half of uni students use AI in their assignments<\/p>\n More than half of university students are using artificial intelligence in their assignment submissions, a new report suggests.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The rates were similar to the United Kingdom but lower than in the US, where 19% of papers contained more than 80% AI.<\/p>\n The vast majority of Australian universities use Turnitin for academic integrity purposes, including the University of Melbourne, Monash University and the Australian National University.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n You can read more about how the university sector is grappling with AI here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.26 EDT<\/p>\n Telstra conducting welfare checks on triple-zero calls<\/p>\n Ackland said it has been conducting welfare checks on any triple zero calls that have failed.<\/p>\n He said:<\/p>\n double quotation markTriple zero calls follow a different settings in our network, and therefore they were not impacted in the same way.<\/p>\n 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\u2019ve been doing this.<\/p>\n We do ask customers not to test and try out triple zero unless you need to, unless you need triple zero.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.17 EDT<\/p>\n Telstra yet to work out cause of outage<\/p>\n Ackland said Telstra does not yet know the root cause of the outage, which he said was national but intermittent.<\/p>\n He said:<\/p>\n double quotation markWe don\u2019t yet know the root cause. We are investigating that urgently, and we\u2019ll 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\u2019s been a big disruption to many people\u2019s days, and we apologise for that.<\/p>\n It has been intermittent, but it has been national, so it doesn\u2019t matter where you\u2019re located. It is not around particular state, it\u2019s not about regional metro.<\/p>\n![\"Penry](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1783477452_357_Penry_Buckley.png\")
Penry Buckley<\/p>\nSarah Basford Canales<\/p>\nSarah Basford Canales<\/p>\nPenry Buckley<\/p>\n![\"Josh](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1783477452_889_Josh_Butler.png\")
Josh Butler<\/p>\n![\"Patrick](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Patrick_Commins.png\")
Patrick Commins<\/p>\n![\"Andrew](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1783477453_262_Andrew_Messenger.png\")
Andrew Messenger<\/p>\n![\"Caitlin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1783477454_288_Caitlin_Cassidy.png\")
Caitlin Cassidy<\/p>\n