Anti Bribery and Corruption for Local Government Course (Australia)

Reducing the prevalence of corrupt practices

Local government bodies in Australia are looking at ways of reducing the prevalence of bribery and corruption in their business dealings, especially in light of increasingly serious laws and regulations.

Bribery has serious negative consequences because it:

• can exacerbate poverty and inhibit a region’s economic development
• results in the inefficient allocation of resources and economic distortions
• distorts the tendering process when companies bid for local government contracts
• undercuts the effectiveness of, and confidence in, programs
• undermines the integrity and, in some cases, the stability of local government bodies
• adds a significant extra cost for organisations
• increases the level of uncertainty for organisations who do business in countries with high levels of corruption

This course explains the risks of bribery and corruption in simple, understandable terms. We look at Australian legislation and what is happening internationally.

Examples are used from recent news headlines and local cases to emphasise the importance of compliance. The course reinforces lessons learned through scenarios presented throughout the program.