This is the Commission's monthly update for December, providing visibility to the media and the public on our key activities and work underway.
As at 10 December, we are conducting 30 preliminary investigations and 38 corruption investigations. Four of our matters are currently before the courts, and since our commencement 11 convictions have been secured as a result of investigations we have commenced or continued.
International Anti-Corruption Day
This week marked International Anti-Corruption Day, an opportunity for the APS - and all Commonwealth public officials - to reflect on a shared commitment to uphold integrity and accountability in everything they do.
We are the newest addition to the Commonwealth integrity system, and are using this International Anti-Corruption Day to raise awareness in the APS and our broader jurisdiction. We are encouraging public officials to Get to know the NACC, to learn about our mission, jurisdiction, and what we mean for all Commonwealth public officials.
New guidance and case studies published
Last week we launched a new guide, Government Business Enterprises: What the NACC means for you, at the OECD-Asia Network on Corporate Governance of State-Owned Enterprises meeting in Melbourne.
Government business enterprises (GBEs) are Commonwealth entities or companies that operate commercially while being owned by, and accountable to, government. They include, for example, Australia Post, NBN Co and Defence Housing Australia, and are within our jurisdiction.
GBEs may face particular corruption risks and vulnerabilities due to their position at the public-private interface and their close relationships with industry - especially in high-risk sectors such as infrastructure, defence and national security - as well as the size and national significance of their projects and their complex governance structures.
Key risk areas in which corrupt conduct may occur within GBEs include procurement and contracting and interference in decision-making. It may take the form of favouritism or bribery.
The guide will help GBE directors, officers, employees, contractors, consultants and advisers understand and prevent corruption risks. Read the GBE guide .
We have also recently published 3 case studies on our website, based on investigations, to assist with identifying corruption risks and to provide real-world examples to better understand vulnerabilities and threats.
These case studies, on Operations Angelo , Overbeek and Roe , join a growing suite of corruption prevention and education resources now available on nacc.gov.au.
Charges laid in Operation Rottnest
In November, 4 individuals - one of whom is a Commonwealth official - were arrested and charged in the Northern Territory for their alleged involvement in a multi-million-dollar fraud in relation to the awarding of Defence contracts.
The charges stem from Operation Rottnest, a joint agency investigation led by the Australian Federal Police with support from the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Department of Defence.
Detecting and investigating alleged corruption in complex procurement activities such as this is one of our strategic corruption priorities. With the Commonwealth public sector spending tens of billions of dollars on procurements each year, corruption in these activities can lead to substantial loss and waste, decreased service quality, and reduced confidence in the public sector.
