Officers from the National Anti-Corruption Commission have conducted a raid at Parliament House as part of an ongoing operation that does not involve any current or former member of parliament.
Late on Thursday, the Nacc confirmed in a statement to Guardian Australia that its officers had been at the parliament during the day. Police officers seconded to the commission conducted the raid.
“The commission can confirm it carried out operational activity today at Parliament House,” the Nacc spokesperson said in a statement. “This was in relation to an ongoing investigation.”
The agency declined to confirm the subject of the raid and would only clarify that it was not a politician.
“The commission can confirm that the investigation does not relate to a current or former parliamentarian,” its statement said.
“As the matter is ongoing, we will not be making further comment, as to do so may compromise operational activities or unfairly impact reputations.”
The Nacc has broad powers to investigate corruption, including the power to enter any place occupied by a commonwealth agency at any reasonable time of the day. It can inspect, seize or copy documents that it deems relevant to its investigation.
However, the anti-corruption agency requires a warrant to enter some commonwealth premises.
According to the attorney general’s department, a warrant is required to enter Parliament House and its precincts, including parliamentary offices and departments located in Parliament House.
“The Nacc may still apply for a warrant to enter and search these places or do so with the agreement of the relevant agency head or minister, as appropriate,” the department’s website says.
A spokesman for the attorney general was unable to confirm whether a warrant was issued.
The Nacc began its operations on 1 July last year to investigate serious or systemic corrupt conduct in the public sector. It can examine the conduct of public servants, commonwealth contractors, parliamentarians and their staff, and police. The previous police watchdog agency, the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity, was folded into it.
In a weekly update on its work issued on Wednesday, the Nacc said it was conducting 29 corruption investigations, including seven jointly with other agencies. It had 32 preliminary investigations on foot and was overseeing 18 investigations by other agencies.
It has six matters before court and 471 referrals pending assessment.
