Government response to the report on the Integrity of overseas Commonwealth law enforcement operations

[Extract from response letter to President of the Senate]

Dear President

I am writing to convey the Government’s response to the former Joint Committee on the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity’s report on the Integrity of overseas Commonwealth law enforcement operations, which predates the 47^th Parliament.

The Government notes each recommendation of the report. However, given the passage of time since the report was tabled, a substantive Government response is no longer appropriate. 

Many recommendations have already been addressed in the intervening period, including the passage of the National Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2022 (NACC Act) that established the National Anti-Corruption Commission, which commenced operation on 1 July 2023, and included a definition of corruption for the purposes of the NACC Act; the requirement in the Australian Public Service Commissioner’s Directions 2022 that APS agencies provide mandatory integrity training for new APS employees; the development of the Commonwealth Integrity Maturity Framework and the Integrity Metrics Resources; and the publication of Guidance for Agency Heads on Gifts and Benefits.

Please accept this letter as the Government’s response to the Integrity of overseas Commonwealth law enforcement operations report. A copy of this letter has also been provided to the Hon Milton Dick MP, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and to Senior Clerk’s Office, which is responsible for the secretariat functions of the former Joint Committee on the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity.

Yours sincerely

[signature redacted]

Michelle Rowland MP