Rowland eyes Nacc reset; AFP pursues leaker; Asio warns politicians on car chats
The Story
Attorney general Michelle Rowland said the National Anti-Corruption Commission could get a “reset” after commissioner Paul Brereton announced his resignation. The AFP commissioner said she is determined to find out how media knew of Ben Roberts-Smith’s arrest and that the leaker should face consequences. Asio warned politicians and public servants not to discuss sensitive information in internet-connected cars due to electronic eavesdropping risks.
Key Facts
- Attorney general Michelle Rowland said the National Anti-Corruption Commission (Nacc) could get a “reset” after Paul Brereton, its first commissioner, said he would step down in July.
- Brereton said criticism of him had drawn “attention away” from the Nacc’s purpose and that “the commission’s success is paramount”.
- Rowland told RN Breakfast the Nacc needed “public support in terms of perception and in practice” and she would engage across parliament.
- AFP commissioner Krissy Barrett said she is determined to find out how media knew of Ben Roberts-Smith’s arrest ahead of time and that the alleged leaker should “face consequences”.
- Barrett said she had no evidence someone in her organisation leaked but referred the matter to the Nacc “out of an abundance of caution”.
- Roberts-Smith was arrested at Sydney airport on 7 April and faces five charges of war crime murder; he has denied all allegations.
- Asio deputy director general Lisa Alonso Love told a budget estimates hearing that discussing classified or sensitive information in connected cars is a risk because vehicles send real-time information back to the manufacturer.
- The warning was not specific about country of origin or carmaker.
- A celebration concert for John Farnham will take place on 20 September at Rod Laver Arena, featuring 120 artists including Keith Urban, Tina Arena, Céline Dion and Hugh Jackman, with funds for head and neck cancer research.
Conflicting Reports
No conflicting reports identified in the source article.
Still Unclear
Whether the Nacc will investigate the media leak regarding Roberts-Smith’s arrest; what specific changes, if any, will be made to capital gains tax discount plans.
Misconceptions
No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.
Key Figures
- Michelle Rowland – attorney general
- Paul Brereton – Nacc commissioner
- Krissy Barrett – AFP commissioner
- Ben Roberts-Smith – former SAS corporal facing war crime charges
- Lisa Alonso Love – Asio deputy director general
- John Farnham – singer
- Tim Ayres – minister of industry and innovation
Sources: The Guardian
