Overview
- Former departmental executives Mark Withnell and Serena Wilson were found to have engaged in corrupt conduct by misleading officials during the 2015 cabinet submission process and a 2017 Ombudsman probe, respectively.
- Four others — including former prime minister Scott Morrison, former department secretary Kathryn Campbell, and senior officials Catherine Halbert and Annette Musolino — were cleared of corrupt conduct.
- The report said key admissions and statements from the inquiry are not admissible in court, so the commission made no referrals for criminal charges.
- With the investigation concluded, the once‑secret identities have been revealed and a sealed chapter of the royal commission’s report will be tabled in parliament this week.
- The NACC’s inquiry proceeded after inspector Gail Furness uncovered an undeclared conflict involving commissioner Paul Brereton and an independent review by former High Court justice Geoffrey Nettle recommended an investigation.