australia’s National integrity system:
We want a more accountable government, a democracy governed with transparency, accountability and integrity.
Australia’s National Integrity System: The Blueprint for Action shows us how we can build a stronger, fairer and more accountable system of government.
This comprehensive blueprint looks at Australia’s whole framework of integrity institutions and shows us how we can act to make our system better.
From greater transparency over political lobbying and donations, to stronger protection for whistleblowers, to a strong and independent anti-corruption watchdog, this report lays out the essential reforms we need to drive greater transparency, accountability and integrity.
The report’s findings are set out across 5 focus areas and 10 actions to prioritise over the next 3-5 years. View each of the five sections below.
Browse the 5 focus areas below
Click on the circles below to explore the five focus areas of the report, or view each section in the list below the infograph
A: A connected national integrity plan
We need to work together to tackle corruption
We need a coordinated national framework in which federal, state and territory agencies work better together – and with civil society, business and international partners. We need a connected approach as a part of a unified system. Our institutions need the scope, the mandate and the funding to tackle corruption effectively.
B: A strong federal integrity commission
We need a strong anti-corruption watchdog, with the power to hold the powerful to account.
Australians are loudly demanding that our politicians and public servants act with honesty, transparency and integrity. We need a strong, effective and well-coordinated national integrity commission that can prevent, detect and stop corruption.
C: Open, trustworthy decision making
We need to trust that decision-making is fair, honest and free of undue influence.
We need greater transparency over lobbying, checks on undue influence and a code of conduct for parliamentarians. We need simple and consistent rules to prevent unfair influence over policy and funding decisions.
D: Fair, honest democracy
We need elections to be conducted with greater fairness and integrity
We need caps on political campaign expenditure, donation limits and real-time disclosure for donations. We need sanctions against misleading or deceptive campaign conduct intended to influence someone’s vote; and an extension of parliamentary and lobbying codes of conduct to all political candidates.
E: Public interest whistleblowing
We need to value the contribution of whistleblowers to the integrity of our democracy
We need consistent and world-leading protection for whistleblowers and public interest journalism. We need a whistleblowing protection authority to provide better assistance to reporters, investigative agencies and regulators.
Background
This research followed Transparency International’s long-established method of assessing a country’s effectiveness at preventing and addressing corruption. TI’s National Integrity System approach assesses a country’s anti-corruption efficacy sector by sector. It allows a nuanced analysis of national efforts to stamp out corruption.
This research was supported by the Australian Research Council and partners Transparency International Australia, Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission, Queensland Integrity Commissioner, NSW Ombudsman and Tasmanian Integrity Commission.
Led by Griffith University, the assessment project has included contributing researchers and authors from across Australia. Apart from desktop research, data collection included two national attitude and experience surveys, five stakeholder workshops, 50 face-to-face interviews, 107 National Integrity Survey responses and 40 comments received on the assessment’s 2019 draft report.
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