Preventing, Detecting and Investigating Fraud and Corruption: Lessons from the NSW Experience (From Fraud Prevention and Control, P 1-13, 2000, Australian Institute of Criminology -- See NCJ-186569)

• NCJ Number: 186572
• Author(s): Peter Gifford
• Date Published: January 2001
• Length: 13 pages
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: Paper presented at the Fraud Prevention and Control Conference convened by the Australian Institute of Criminology on August 24-25, 2000.

Annotation

This paper describes how the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in New South Wales (Australia) has acted to prevent, detect, and investigate fraud and corruption in the public sector of that State.

Abstract

The ICAC was established by statute in 1988 and began operating in March 1989. Its creation was a reaction to a significant decline in the public sector's credibility. The ICAC has been mandated to expose and minimize the incidence of corrupt conduct in the New South Wales public sector. The ICAC uses three tools to achieve its objectives: investigation, which aims to expose the facts in cases of suspected public-sector corruption; corruption prevention, which involves scrutinizing public-sector systems to determine whether they have a propensity to permit or encourage corrupt conduct; and education, which involves educating public employees and the community in general about what is involved in the ethical performance of public-sector jobs. In its research efforts, the ICAC has identified the following categories of corruption risk factors: opportunity, cultural acceptance, little fear of detection, and lack of leadership and support. This paper describes specific measures that have been undertaken to achieve cultural change that promotes ethical public service; efforts in the development of codes of conduct; legislation to enhance the reporting of public corruption; the prevention of corruption in procurement processes; and the benefits of good governance for business, the government, and the community.