CourtHeath ConsultingCourtHeath Consulting CourtHeath ConsultingCourtHeath Consulting
  • Home
  • Services
  • Blog
  • About us
    • Our people
    • Our story
    • Panels
  • UN Global Compact
    • UNGC Statement
  • Resources
    • Our policies
    • Documents
    • FAQ
  • Contact us +
    • Where to find us:

      0421167746

      CourtHeath Consulting
      Level 30, 35 Collins Street
      Melbourne 3000

      Contact No: 0421 167 746

      Email: info@courtheath.com.au

      Parliament Station for the Train and Tram (Line 11, 12 & 109 - Stop 10).

      Contact form:






      Your Name (required)

      Your Email (required)

      Subject

      Your Message

        

15 May

Australian Dialogue on Bribery and Corruption

Courtheath's blog
By CourtHeath Consulting
​

Exploring ways to strengthen ethical business practices and reduce corruption and bribery in Australia and wherever Australian businesses operate.

On 3 May 2018, CourtHeath attended the National Dialogue on Anti-bribery and Corruption Event held in Melbourne. Presented by Global Compact Network Australia (GCNA), the event provided an important opportunity for Australian businesses, government / regulators, academics and civil society to explore ways to strengthen ethical business practices and reduce corruption and bribery in Australia and wherever Australian businesses operate.

The event’s three key areas* of discussion were:

  1. the nature and rationale of the proposed foreign bribery reforms as set out in the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Combatting Corporate Crime) Bill 2017 (Cth) (Bill) (including the introduction of the Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) scheme)
  2. the impact of self-reporting, cooperation and access to DPAs
  3. guidance on how to implement and maintain adequate procedures to prevent foreign bribery.

A range of Australian and international industry experts provided a robust and privileged conversation addressing these key points in an effort to:

  • identify the challenges and opportunities in enforcement, with particular emphasis on how to support business-regulator engagement and collaboration
  • offer Australian businesses greater insight into the practical steps that support ethical business practices, and the risks in not doing so
  • build an Australian multi-stakeholder network on ethical business practice and anti-corruption
  •  identify steps each stakeholder group can take to move the anti-corruption agenda forward in Australia.

Opening the event was the keynote address Perspectives from the US presented by Matthew Axelrod, Partner, Linklaters (former US Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General, Department of Justice) via video link-up live from the US. Axelrod offered invaluable insights into US guidance and how lessons learned, particularly in terms of the perceptions and realities of DPAs and self-reporting in the US context, could inform Australia’s proposed legislation that would see amendments to the Criminal Code Act 1995(Cth) (Criminal Code) and the Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1983 (Cth) (DPP Act). 

Axelrod’s presentation was followed by The Australian reforms – amendments to foreign bribery laws and DPAs panel discussion with Anna Harmer (First Assistant Secretary, AGD) offering an overview of the reforms the Australian government is considering in an effort to reduce corporate crime that currently costs Australia more than $8 billion per year. DPAs and foreign bribery reforms were highlighted, as was the development of a code of practice that would sit alongside legislation. 

Other event participants included Jeldee Robertson (Principal Federal Prosecutor, Commercial, Financial and Corruption Group, CDPP), Mark McIntyre (Superintendent, Coordinator Anti-Corruption, Organised Crime, AFP) and Sir Edward Garnier QC (One Brick Court Chambers, UK) whose pre-recorded video presentation, DPAs in action: perspectives from the UK, offered real-life insight into self-reporting, DPAs and self-disclosure. Garnier, the architect of the deferred prosecution regime in the UK, appeared in two of the four DPAs so far approved by the Court – Standard Bank (2014) and Rolls-Royce(2017). Both cases were discussed in a broader conversation that highlighted the political and legal challenges faced with the introduction of the Deferred Prosecution Agreement in the UK. 

Concluding with the workshop, What will make guidance on adequate procedures effective? and a short discussion outlining ‘next steps’, the event was a rare and important opportunity to gain a deeper understanding about the complexities and challenges surrounding corporate bribery and corruption and the role DPAs can play in addressing unethical behaviour in business.

*  *  *

A participant in the UN Global Compact, CourtHeath seeks to raise awareness about the Sustainable Development Goals and the principles of the Global Compact with business and government organisations in Victoria.

IMAGE: Melbourne skyline. Used under licence from shutterstock.com

______________ 

* Allens > < Linklaters (3 May 2018). Australian Dialogue on Bribery and Corruption,briefing pack, p.2, Global Compact Network Australia. 

Written by 

​Wendy Cavenett
.


[category courtheath's blog]

[

​bribery, corruption, Deferred Prosecution Agreement

]

CourtHeath Consulting

CourtHeath Consulting provides expert procurement and probity advice to government and not for profit organisations. We provide specialist consulting services about procurement issues and organisational procurement operations – as well as management of simple and complex tender processes. Our probity audit and advisory services help clients meet government probity standards especially regarding conflict of interest, confidentiality, ethical conduct and corruption risks.

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Recent Posts

  • Corruption begets more corruption: IACD19
  • Everyone can #DoSomething: VicGovSuppliers SPF
  • VPS Commissioner: Integrity Infrastructure
  • VEII briefing 2019 – Part 2: From the panel Q&A session
  • VEII briefing 2019 – Part 1: What’s VSBA doing?

Archives

  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • March 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • Home
  • Services
  • About us
    • Our People
    • Our story
    • Panels
CourtHeath logo
  • Blog
  • UN Global Compact
  • Resources
    • Our policies
    • Documents
    • FAQ
  • CONTACT US

CourtHeath Consulting
Level 30, 35 Collins Street
Melbourne 3000

Contact No: 0421 167 746
Email: info@courtheath.com.au

Parliament Station for the Train and Tram (Line 11, 12 & 109 - Stop 10).


Copyright 2019 © CourtHeath Consulting · Australia. All Rights Reserved.