NACC to receive political referrals

The new National Anti-Corruption Commission will receive political referrals on the Brittany Higgins payout, the Beetaloo Basin and the PwC tax scandal despite Anthony Albanese warning against the body being politicised.

Inaugural NACC commissioner Paul Brereton will make a speech in Canberra on Monday to launch the beginning of the body.

The new National Anti-Corruption Commission will receive political referrals on the Brittany Higgins payout, the Beetaloo Basin and the PwC tax scandal, despite Anthony Albanese warning against the body being politicised.

Inaugural NACC commissioner Paul Brereton will make a speech in Canberra on Monday to launch the beginning of the body, which was an election commitment from Labor.

The body will wade through thousands of referrals of corruption in its first year, but the Prime Minister has poured cold water on the government referring members of the Coalition.

A spokesman for One Nation leader Pauline Hanson said the Higgins compensation payout should be the first thing investigated by the commission, and she was prepared to refer the matter herself.

A spokeswoman for teal independent Zali Steggall said she was considering referring taxpayer support for the Beetaloo basin and grants through the Northern Australia Infrastructure Fund.

The Greens have released a hit list of issues they are urging the NACC to investigate, including Scott Morrison’s secret ministries scandal, robodebt, the Morrison government’s sports grants scheme and government contracts linked to former cabinet minister Stuart Robert.

NDIS Minister Bill Shorten last week said he was considering referring Mr Robert to the NACC, but this was shut down by Mr Albanese.

The Australian understands any government referral of Mr Robert would come only if it were recommended in the inquiry undertaken by the joint committee of public accounts and audit.

On Sunday, Greens senator Barbara Pocock said she had formally referred PwC to the new body.

“The PwC tax leaks scandal has been airing in public for the past five months and so far we know too little about who was at fault, who benefited and what consequences there will be,” she said. “This is a matter that goes to the heart of integrity in government and frankly there are so many unanswered questions, not only about what PwC did but also the roles played by government agencies.”