9 stories this week:
What does the National Anti-Corruption Commission mean for the Northern Territory ICAC? – 14 July 2023
It has only been in operation for two weeks, but the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has already been inundated with 300 reports of misconduct and corrupt conduct. The federal NACC defines its task as “deterring, detecting and preventing corrupt conduct involving Commonwealth public officials.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-14/nt-nacc-icac-corruption-overlap-reports-future/102588028
Australia’s Proposed New Bribery Law – 17 July 2023
Australia is looking to introduce a new foreign bribery law that includes a corporate failure to prevent offence and a stricter definition of corrupt payments. The proposed new legislation, the Combatting Foreign Bribery Bill, would remove the current requirement for prosecutors to prove that a defendant had a specific advantage in mind when paying a bribe. It would also introduce the offence of “improperly influencing” a foreign official.
Deloitte CEO defends $3.5m pay amid calls for reform, royal commission – 17 July 2023
The Senate inquiry into consulting firms has resulted in emerging themes that the partnership structure of the big four firms helps them escape the type of regulatory oversight and disclosure that other large private companies are subjected to, that self-regulation of the sector is not working effectively, and that the firms, especially the strategy firms, feel free to refuse to reveal details of their operations to the Senate committee.
Linx Employment under investigation for alleged mistreatment of Pacific Islander workers – 18 July 2023
Linx Employment is facing multiple investigations over allegations it failed to provide workers with their legally contracted 30 hours per week. The Australian Workers Union (AWU) claims about 190 workers from around the country have come forward with complaints about Linx Employment.
AFP pauses use of controversial surveillance tech Auror found in Woolworths, Bunnings – 18 July 2023
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has suspended the use of surveillance platform Auror after a freedom of information (FOI) request revealed that more than 100 of its staff had used the platform – for more than a year in some cases – without considering privacy or security implications.
https://www.smartcompany.com.au/industries/retail/afp-pauses-controversial-surveillance-tech-auror/
Tennant Creek community leader Deb Cain charged with obtaining benefit by deception – 19 July 2023
Deb Cain, a Tennant Creek community leader and former manager at the local Aboriginal council has been charged with obtaining benefit by deception. At Tennant Creek Local Court, she was accused of using fraudulent working with children clearances and a national police check, which incorrectly stated she had no criminal history.
Woman who cheated NAB out of millions of dollars jailed for 15 years – 20 July 2023
Helen Mary Rosamond was handed a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for embezzling millions of dollars from the National Australia Bank (NAB) Her co-offender and “bestie” Rosemary Rogers is currently serving an eight-year sentence.
The $62 million estimate of the total fraud is based on evidence provided in the trial by McGrathNicol’s forensic accountant partner Matt Fehon, who was employed by the NSW Police and NAB to examine business records of the Human Group in relation to the NAB fraud.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-20/helen-rosamond-nab-fraud-sentencing/102624088
No local FTX reboot as ASIC cancels its Australian licence – 20 July 2023
About 30,000 Australian investors are embroiled in FTX’s bankruptcy proceedings after revelations last year that about $8.7 billion in customer money had been drained from individual accounts and used for personal trading and venture capital investments. ASIC has now once again cancelled FTX’s Australian financial services licence.
What creates an unethical workplace and how to stamp out bad behaviour – 21 July 2023
It’s more important than ever to understand how unethical behaviour thrives in a workplace – and how to stamp it out. The article talks about Harvard Business School professor Max Bazerman, who has written extensively about the connection between unethical work environments and complicity, which he defines as being involved with others in illegal or unethical activity. He’s particularly interested in how such scandals could be prevented from happening again.
