Corruption Matters - May 2018 | Issue 51
The regulator and change: embracing the paradox
Valerie Griswold is the Executive Director of Fair Trading Operations at NSW Fair Trading. She will speak at the National Investigations Symposium in November about her role as one of the state’s consumer protection gatekeepers, and why collaboration among many and likeminded bodies is more important than ever.
Read more...
Resumé checks: no time for complacency says ICAC report
Employment application fraud is a form of corrupt conduct. And, given that between 20% and 30% of job applications contain falsehoods, it is also widespread conduct. The ICAC released a new report earlier this year on better employment screening practices to help public sector agencies detect false resumés and prevent corruption.
Read more...
What motivates people to behave dishonestly?
Dishonesty can be expensive for an organisation; there are the costs associated with corrupt gains, of course, but also the expense that comes with increased surveillance and resources required to influence people to comply with the rules. Behavioural economist Franziska Tausch believes organisations can be less heavy-handed – and even save money – by using behavioural science to boost honesty in the workplace.
Read more...
Top five conflict of interest myths
Conflicts of interest probably trip up more public sector people and cause more unnecessary panic and problems than any other corruption-related concern. One of the reasons for this is the myths surrounding conflicts of interest.
Read more...
An investigations symposium? Oh yes.
Registrations are now open for the 12th National Investigations Symposium (NIS), to be held in November at the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney. Since it began in 1994, the NIS has attracted the participation of several hundred delegates from across Australia and abroad at every event.
Read more...
Procedural guidelines for the ICAC
In 2016, an amendment to the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988 (“the ICAC Act”) introduced a new section, 31B, about procedural guidelines relating to public inquiries. These are guidelines that the ICAC Commissioners are required to issue to ICAC staff (and also Counsel Assisting the Commission) relating to the conduct of public inquiries.
Read more...
Tips for responding to challenging behaviour
The NSW Ombudsman is currently finalising the latest edition of the Managing Unreasonable Conduct by Complainants Practice Manual and the development of new guidance on restoring relationships with complainants. These companion publications will be available in the second half of 2018.
Read more...
In other news
One of the goals of the ICAC is to educate public sector agencies, public officials and members of the public about corruption, and how to prevent and report it. Training workshops, rural outreach visits and other engagements are undertaken by ICAC staff throughout the year to achieve this goal.
Read more...