Neil Tiffen argues in “The Age” that corruption “is not just an issue for government – it applies to businesses, political parties, sports associations, charitable organisations and unions. It affects us all.” What we need is a “Federal ICAC”, an anti-corruption commission operating at the federal level.
http://www.theage.com.au/comment/australia-slides-down-world-anticorruption-rankings-20160404-gnxjjq.html
Dodgy unions are not our worst corruption problem
Neville Tiffen
Published: April 5, 2016 – 12:00AM
Australia is no longer viewed as one of the 10 cleanest countries in the world. Its ranking in the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index has been slipping for some time. Two years ago, it fell out of the top 10 countries. Last year, it slipped further. And yet, the Attorney-General’s Department website merely states “Australia is consistently ranked as one of the least corrupt nations in the world in the” TI index.
Last week Fairfax Media investigative journalists reported bribery allegations rampant in the powerful oil industry, including well-known Australian companies and executives. They also reported a bribery allegation from Cambodia that has resulted in a CEO of a major company resigning in view of the ongoing investigation.
We have seen cross bench senators calling for a wider approach to corruption than just the proposed Australian Building and Construction Commission, including calls for a federal anti-corruption agency. To its credit, the Greens have been calling for this for some time.
A lack of proper oversight and transparency allows corruption to occur and this affects us all – whether it be guns on the streets, illegal goods entering the country, questionable land zonings, foreign bribery, terrorism financing, favouritism resulting in unfair deals, political donations and lobbying, or money laundering.
This is not just an issue for government – it applies to businesses, political parties, sports associations, charitable organisations and unions. It affects us all.
Fairfax Media has also reported on the poor culture that exists at a couple of our major banks and other companies. This includes the appalling way that companies have responded to employees who have tried to raise issues with management. The Federal government does not seem to be as critical of this as it is of some union behaviour.
Whether or not you think the trade union royal commission was politically motivated, there is no doubt it uncovered appalling corruption and poor governance. The tame responses to this by the ALP and the Greens are lamentable.
The opaqueness in political donations and in lobbying has resulted in cynicism among many Australians. A recent poll stated that only 11 per cent of voters have any trust in politicians. Many of our MPs are career politicians and they have developed a mindset of “whatever it takes”. That approach will never result in open and transparent government.
The Federal government should take the lead in improving Australia’s reputation in anti-corruption. It might help to increase the public’s confidence in our politicians generally. The Government would then have the high moral ground to attack the behaviour of other organisations.
The UK last year introduced a comprehensive anti-corruption plan. Australia had a well developed draft plan some years ago but it fell off the political agenda – with some urgency this needs to be revitalised.
That plan must include a federal independent anti-corruption agency. The main role of an ICAC is to expose unpleasant facts about corruption in the public sector, including our MPs. Fairfax Media has reported NSW ICAC prosecutor, Graeme Watson, saying he has seen material suggesting corruption at the federal level. Anti-corruption agencies at the state level have uncovered some very unpleasant matters – why would they not exist at the Federal level?
The NSW ICAC disclosed unpleasant facts that the public would not have known about without ICAC.
There have been a couple of bright spots on the anti-corruption front. The Federal government has committed to the Open Government Partnership and will develop a plan for this. Sixty-nine other countries have already committed to OGP since it started in 2011 and it has taken Australia too long to commit.
The government has introduced a “false accounting” provision in the Criminal Code which will help the federal police in investigating foreign bribery. However, there does not seem to be any inclination to move to the solid position adopted by the UK in its Bribery Act.
Corruption is a concern for all of us. It tears at the very fabric of society. Australia should be, and can be, at the top of the global anti-corruption table. As we approach the Federal election, the major political parties should be pressured to commit to strong anti-corruption policies with time frames.
If the Turnbull government is serious in wanting to clean up corruption, it should look further than the tarnished construction industry. It should take a strong position on corruption generally. Such a stance might boost the government in the polls, set the tone for business and unions, and start to repair Australia’s anti-corruption reputation. At the moment Australia lacks this leadership.
Neville Tiffen is a consultant in corporate governance, integrity and compliance. He is a member of the OECD Secretary-General’s advisory group on integrity and anti-corruption and former global head of compliance at Rio Tinto.
This story was found at: http://www.theage.com.au/comment/dodgy-unions-are-not-our-worst-corruption-problem-20160404-gnxjjq.html