Top lawyers and politicians are calling for changes to government selection processes after the nation's integrity watchdog became shrouded in a culture of secrecy.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission's inaugural boss Paul Brereton resigned on Monday following ongoing investigations into his conflicts of interest, including giving advice on defence matters.
"The ongoing focus on matters relating to me personally rather than the commission's work is drawing attention away from the commission's core purpose," Mr Brereton wrote in his resignation statement.
But Centre for Public Integrity chair Anthony Whealy KC said Mr Brereton's behaviour was only allowed to reach a questionable point because of the recruitment processes and culture surrounding the anti-corruption watchdog.
"There needs to be a complete change of culture," he said.
