The National Anti-Corruption Commission’s raid conducted at Parliament House on Thursday was related to the Department of Parliamentary Services, according to sources within the building.
Guardian Australia has been told that part of the department was closed off when officers arrived to conduct a search.
Guardian Australia also witnessed an area of the department, which is normally open for entry during business hours, with its doors still closed on Thursday afternoon.
The Nacc has confirmed it attended Parliament House on Thursday. It declined to answer questions about the subject of its inquiries.
“The commission can confirm it carried out operational activity today at Parliament House,” the Nacc spokesperson said in a statement to Guardian Australia on Thursday evening. “This was in relation to an ongoing investigation.”
“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.”
On Friday afternoon, Guardian Australia received responses from the office of the Speaker and from the Department of Parliamentary Services to questions lodged on Thursday. They were very similar.
“Questions regarding the operations of the National Anti-Corruption Commission should be referred to them for their response,” DPS said in its statement.
A spokesperson for the Speaker, Milton Dick, said: “All enquiries relating to the work of the NACC should be referred to the NACC.”
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, including Parliament House and its precincts, 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 attorney-general’s department’s website says.
In response to questions from Guardian Australia on Friday, the Nacc said in a statement that its warrants can be issued by a magistrate or qualified court officer.
It declined to say whether it had notified parliament’s presiding officers of its intention to enter the building on Thursday.
“When operationally practicable and appropriate, the Commission observes appropriate courtesies before entering any premises, but is not legally required to do so,” the statement said.
The Australian federal police has a memorandum of understanding with parliament’s presiding officers governing entry to the parliamentary jurisdiction, and the Nacc has confirmed it is seeking its own.
“The Commission is currently negotiating a memorandum of understanding with the Parliament in relation to parliamentary privilege,” it said.
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.
