This corruption investigation (Operation Kingscliff) examined whether a Senior Executive Service staff member in the Department of Home Affairs had improperly used her position to influence the recruitment of her sister’s fiancé into a position in that Department and to assist her sister in another recruitment process. The investigation also examined the conduct of the sister and her fiancé.

Since the Commission’s establishment, it has received many referrals relating to recruitment and promotion in the Australian Public Service. As has been noted by other anti‑corruption agencies, the power to recruit someone to a public position is a power not to be underestimated, given the salary and other benefits the position confers. Nepotism, cronyism and undeclared conflicts of interest in recruitment and promotion is an area of widespread concern. 

Nepotism in recruitment and promotion undermines the merit selection process and erodes morale. According to the Commission’s 2024 Commonwealth Integrity Survey, nepotism and cronyism are the most commonly observed types of corrupt conduct. This is a paradigm case, which illustrates the risks and vulnerabilities in these areas and the importance of corruption prevention measures.

The findings that the official engaged in conduct which was an abuse of her office as a public official and a misuse of official information mean that she engaged in corrupt conduct which, having regard to her seniority, the deception involved, the multiple occasions, and the significance of the benefit conferred on her sister’s fiancé, was serious; and which, having regard to the prevalence of complaints of nepotism, cronyism and undeclared conflicts of interest in recruitment in the Australian Public Service, was systemic.