Robert McClelland appointed head of Australia’s anti-corruption commission
Former Labor attorney general and federal judge Robert McClelland has been selected to lead the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission will be headed by Robert McClelland, a former Labor attorney general and current deputy chief justice of the federal circuit and family court of Australia. McClelland held the attorney-general portfolio in the Rudd government between 2007 and 2011 and was appointed to the bench by the Coalition in 2015. He succeeds Paul Brereton, who resigned in May, citing distraction from criticism.
Attorney General Michelle Rowland confirmed that McClelland’s selection followed an open, competitive, merit-based process. The government also announced Christopher Savundra as the commission’s new deputy commissioner. Rowland expressed confidence that the two appointees will strengthen the body’s work to improve integrity across the Commonwealth public sector.
Why it matters
The appointment could shape how Australia investigates and prevents corruption in its public institutions.
How the sides frame it
HIGH AGREEMENTAll camps report the appointment of Robert McClelland as head of the anti-corruption commission, but left-leaning coverage highlights the merit-based selection, center coverage stresses the resignation and turbulent history of the watchdog, and right-leaning coverage foregrounds conflict-of-interest claims about the predecessor and the unanimous parliamentary endorsement.
LEFT
Frames the appointment as the result of an open, competitive, merit-based process that will strengthen integrity across the public sector
CENTER
Frames the appointment as a transition following the resignation of an embattled predecessor after a turbulent period for the watchdog
RIGHT
Frames the appointment as a response to conflict-of-interest concerns about the former chief, emphasizing the unanimous parliamentary endorsement and expected boost to integrity
The left emphasises
- open, competitive, merit-based process
- will strengthen the body’s work to improve integrity across the Commonwealth public sector
The right emphasises
- amid ongoing conflict-of-interest claims
- both appointments were unanimously endorsed by the parliamentary oversight committee
- confidence in their ability to boost integrity across the Commonwealth public sector
In this story
