Victoria Anti-corruption group meets with TINZ contingent

On 28 October 2017, Transparency International New Zealand (TINZ) Auckland-based Directors David McNeill, Lisa Traill and Karen Webster met with a contingent from the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBACC) of Victoria, Australia.

The IBACC is one of nine joint investigatory committees of the Parliament of Victoria. They have been visiting countries including Ireland, Hong Kong and New Zealand, to meet with a broad range of government and law enforcement organisations in a bid to determine world’s best practice.

Their current enquiry is specifically in regard to oversight of police misconduct and corruption, the scale of the issue, how it is identified and what is done about it.  In New Zealand they noted that the police are second, only to the medical profession in terms of public trust which was in stark contrast to how the police are regarded in Australia.

While in New Zealand, the group met with the Independent Police Authority, the Serious Fraud Office, various government departments and Defence Force representatives.

Its meeting with TINZ Directors covered a wide range of topics related to corruption including:

• What indices in addition to Transparency International’s corruptions perception index are used to determine corruption levels in New Zealand.
• Are the two recent fraud cases prosecuted in New Zealand isolated examples or the tip of the iceberg? Does the process for addressing them confirm that we are on top of preventing corruption, or a cause for concern? And what impact of international publicity about these cases have on New Zealand’s Corruption Perceptions Index score?
• The potential for electoral fraud and the rigour of investigations into potential fraud.
• New Zealand policing style, in particular, the ways in which our police force work with communities and the keen cultural awareness that they bring to front line policing. Police visiting schools and engaging closely with youth through the New Zealand youth justice system was also discussed.
• The importance of tone from the top, leaders setting the culture.
• The need for formal education that addresses ethics, democracy, natural and legal justice as a means of education shaping positive morals in society. Such education is minimal but has the potential to drive meaningful behavioural shifts over time.
• Whistleblowers and the formal and informal support for whistleblowers was a key topic of interest. Discussion of how well New Zealand supports them and the need for additional cultural and legal protections.
• There was broad agreement that the New Zealand police are operating within, and are representative of, the broader culture of ethics and integrity. It was noted that it appears organised crime is more ingrained or more pervasive in the Australian context than in New Zealand.
• Discussion about the impact of the new government and how it is likely to reward the business sector for operating in a more socially conscious way and encouraging of business ethics in general as well as its commitment to all 17 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
• It was noted that the Serious Fraud Office is only resourced to address significant fraud and thereby unable to investigate lesser crimes.