Regional efforts to fight corruption
Australia is increasing efforts to help our regional partners fight corruption.
Australia is an active participant in key regional organisations such as:
- the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Anti-Corruption and Transparency Experts Task Force, and
- the Asian Development Bank OECD Anti-Corruption Initiative for the Asia Pacific.
Aid Policy
The Australian Government is committed to addressing anti-corruption through the international development assistance program. Wherever possible, Australia works closely with partner governments to support their own efforts to tackle corruption and improve transparency and accountability in government. Australia requires Anti-Corruption Action Plans for all country programs and priority has been given to establishing plans in Indonesia, the Philippines, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
The whole-of-government Anti-Corruption for Development Policy ‘Tackling Corruption for Growth and Development’ provides a framework for planning, resourcing, and reviewing anti corruption activities on a country and regional basis. The goal of the policy is to assist developing countries sustainably reduce corruption to improve economic and social development. Under this policy, Australian aid seeks to support anti corruption reform, reduce opportunities for corruption and limit incentives for corrupt behaviour.
Technical Assistance and Capacity Building
Australia provides technical assistance to developing countries within the Asia-Pacific region in areas such as policing, law, justices and combating transnational organised crime.
The Attorney-General's Department provides technical, legal and capacity-building assistance to Pacific and South East Asian countries through the International Assistance and Treaties Branch (IATB).
The Anti-Money Laundering Assistance Team provides bilateral and regional assistance to countries in the Pacific to develop systems to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.
The Regional Legal Assistance Unit works with countries in South East Asia to strengthen their counter-terrorism laws and improve international legal cooperation arrangements in the fight against terrorism and transnational organised crime.
The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC), Australia’s specialist Financial Intelligence Unit and Anti-Money Laundering/Counter Terrorism Financing regulator, provides targeted capacity building assistance and training throughout South East Asia and the Pacific.