The Albanese government's flagship manufacturing fund is being investigated over possible misconduct following a whistleblower complaint alleging governance failures and ongoing workplace culture issues.
Capital Brief can reveal that the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund is the subject of a Public Interest Disclosures Investigation led by law firm Clayton Utz and KPMG, with oversight from the Commonwealth Ombudsman under Australia’s whistleblower protection laws.
Eleven witness interviews have already been conducted, correspondence viewed by Capital Brief shows, with investigators determining that some of the allegations warrant respondent interviews to determine whether "serious disclosable conduct" has occurred.
The allegations, detailed in confidential communications with the NRF board seen by Capital Brief, include claims that freedom of information requests were mishandled and subject to interference, that millions of dollars were spent on external recruitment agencies without a proper procurement process, and that roles were filled without being properly advertised externally.
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