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| Public servants report rise in corruption, prompting calls for federal watchdog | Public servants report rise in corruption, prompting calls for federal watchdog |
| (13 days later) | |
| The proportion of public servants witnessing corruption, largely in the form of cronyism and nepotism, has increased significantly in the past three years, a new survey shows. | The proportion of public servants witnessing corruption, largely in the form of cronyism and nepotism, has increased significantly in the past three years, a new survey shows. |
| The survey, conducted by the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC), revealed that 5% of of public servants reported witnessing corrupt behaviour in 2016-2017. | The survey, conducted by the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC), revealed that 5% of of public servants reported witnessing corrupt behaviour in 2016-2017. |
| That represents a significant increase from the 2.6% who witnessed corruption in 2013-14 and the 3.6% of respondents in 2014-15. | That represents a significant increase from the 2.6% who witnessed corruption in 2013-14 and the 3.6% of respondents in 2014-15. |
| Cronyism was by far the most common form of corruption witnessed, accounting for almost two-thirds of all responses last financial year. | Cronyism was by far the most common form of corruption witnessed, accounting for almost two-thirds of all responses last financial year. |
| That was followed by nepotism (26%), and “green-lighting” (21%), a term for decisions that improperly favour a person or company, or disadvantage another. | That was followed by nepotism (26%), and “green-lighting” (21%), a term for decisions that improperly favour a person or company, or disadvantage another. |
| The APSC, in its annual state of the service report, has maintained that corruption remains rare in the federal public service. But it said action was needed to reduce corrupt behaviour. | The APSC, in its annual state of the service report, has maintained that corruption remains rare in the federal public service. But it said action was needed to reduce corrupt behaviour. |
| “As well as ensuring that corruption is eliminated, [Australian public service] leaders should focus on ensuring that employees are confident that if they report corruption it will be acted on appropriately,” the report said. | “As well as ensuring that corruption is eliminated, [Australian public service] leaders should focus on ensuring that employees are confident that if they report corruption it will be acted on appropriately,” the report said. |
| The findings have renewed calls for a federal anti-corruption body. | The findings have renewed calls for a federal anti-corruption body. |
| Transparency International, an anti-corruption group, said the current environment discouraged public servants from speaking out against their colleagues. | Transparency International, an anti-corruption group, said the current environment discouraged public servants from speaking out against their colleagues. |
| I think there is a genuine fear that people don’t like to dob in their mates | I think there is a genuine fear that people don’t like to dob in their mates |
| The president, Anthony Whealy, a former New South Wales supreme court judge, said the increase in reports of corruption was significant. | The president, Anthony Whealy, a former New South Wales supreme court judge, said the increase in reports of corruption was significant. |
| He said it highlighted the need for an overarching anti-corruption body, which had responsibility for the whole public service. | He said it highlighted the need for an overarching anti-corruption body, which had responsibility for the whole public service. |
| “There is a problem with the Australian public service and the commission and the code of conduct,” Whealy told Guardian Australia. “I think there is a genuine fear that people don’t like to dob in their mates.” | “There is a problem with the Australian public service and the commission and the code of conduct,” Whealy told Guardian Australia. “I think there is a genuine fear that people don’t like to dob in their mates.” |
| “There are not adequate whistleblower protections and they would be afraid of the consequences for their employment.” | “There are not adequate whistleblower protections and they would be afraid of the consequences for their employment.” |
| Whealy said he believed the real rate of corruption was far higher than that suggested in the report. | Whealy said he believed the real rate of corruption was far higher than that suggested in the report. |
| The report also revealed a majority of those surveyed in 59 agencies believed they worked in a high corruption risk environment. It’s the first time such a question has been asked. | The report also revealed a majority of those surveyed in 59 agencies believed they worked in a high corruption risk environment. It’s the first time such a question has been asked. |
| “It highlights that there’s a possibility of an epidemic of corruption lying beneath the surface in some of these agencies,” Whealy said. | “It highlights that there’s a possibility of an epidemic of corruption lying beneath the surface in some of these agencies,” Whealy said. |
| “Overall, I think it’s an interesting report, but it only highlights the need for an independent overarching, umbrella-type organisation that has the capacity to investigate more serious instances of corruption, as well as lower-level incidents.” | “Overall, I think it’s an interesting report, but it only highlights the need for an independent overarching, umbrella-type organisation that has the capacity to investigate more serious instances of corruption, as well as lower-level incidents.” |
| The commission’s report found public servants were likely to report corruption. | The commission’s report found public servants were likely to report corruption. |
| About three-quarters of employees who worked in high-risk environments said they would feel confident that their colleagues would report corruption. The number was 64% for low-risk environments. | About three-quarters of employees who worked in high-risk environments said they would feel confident that their colleagues would report corruption. The number was 64% for low-risk environments. |
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