Officials from the National Emergency Management Agency have refused to confirm whether any allegations of corruption from within the agency have been referred to the National Anti-Corruption Commission despite a recent staff survey finding 3% of those surveyed had observed corrupt conduct. None of the allegations were reported through the agency’s internal channels.
Federal Nationals Senator for New South Wales, and Shadow Minister for Water, Emergency Management, and Fisheries and Forestry, Ross Cadell, said the lack of clarity was a sign of deeper trouble within the agency.
“The fact that almost a dozen staff members said they have observed corrupt conduct yet did not feel safe in reporting it is a serious indictment on the National Emergency Management Agency,” Cadell said.
“To have senior NEMA officials ducking and weaving their way out of simple questions this morning was an embarrassment and gives little comfort this organisation can be trusted in a disaster.
“If NEMA can’t provide clear answers on whether allegations of corruption have been referred to the National Anti-Corruption Commission then it is time for new leadership at the agency.”
The exchange followed comments from NEMA officials who claimed that key indicators had improved when it came to bullying and harassment, brushing aside the fact 15% of staff had been bullied or harassed in the past survey period, with two-thirds of these going unreported. In 2025, the agency was ranked 94th out of 107 within the Australian Public Service as part of a whole of organisation wellbeing survey.
It also found almost half of all employees at the agency want to leave the organisation within the next 12-months as startling staff survey results show one of the worst cultures of wellbeing within the public service.
“The findings of this most recent staff survey show a pattern of sustained governance failures that are embedded within the National Emergency Management Agency,” Cadell said.
“While the agency may try and play this away as an isolated issue, the continued above average rates of bullying and harassment show a complete failure from NEMA’s leadership.”
“We’re talking about an agency who exists to coordinate disaster response and support people in their darkest hour, yet it appears they can’t even look after their own people.
“Agency staff should feel comfortable that if they see corrupt behaviour they can report it without fear of repercussion.
It was also revealed between 80 and 120 staff at the agency have been forced to wait “extended periods” to receive payments related to overtime and meal allowances. That is despite evidence given in October in which NEMA told Estimates that “only one staff member at that point in time who was underpaid.”
“Multiple whistleblowers have contacted my office to raise concerns about systemic underpayments,” Cadell said.
“When pressed on what “extended periods” meant, the agency was full of long sentences, HR terminology and no answers.
“If 120 staff are not receiving what they are entitled to then we need to call it out for what it is. It is an underpayment.”
