The head of the investigation into alleged Australian war crimes in Afghanistan has been named as the first federal anti-corruption chief. New South Wales (NSW) Court of Appeal judge Paul Brereton will lead the National Anti-Corruption Commission, which will operate independently of the government and be able to launch inquiries on its initiative or in…

A federal anti-corruption watchdog will be up and running in the coming months after the government’s signature legislation passed parliament. The Senate passed the legislation on Tuesday with amendments that beefed up the powers of the inspector who provides oversight of the commission. The amendments were ticked off in the lower house on Wednesday with…