The federal attorney-general has called for more action on corruption and bribery.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has called for a collaborative effort in his 2024 Australian Dialogue on Bribery and Corruption.

Dreyfus highlighted the need for a united front in pursuing a national integrity agenda. He urged businesses to join forces with government to mitigate these risks both within Australia and globally.

“Corruption and bribery are insidious problems that not only corrode economic development and good governance but also undermine the rule of law,” Dreyfus stated. 

He said these issues skew competition, misallocate resources, and increase costs while reducing the quality of public goods and services.

Dreyfus outlined the government's commitment to combating corruption through several key initiatives.

He said the government has been active in restoring public trust and strengthening integrity standards. 

The introduction of the National Anti-Corruption Commission on 1 July 2023 marked a major step. 

In its first year, the Commission received over 3,000 referrals, conducted 25 investigations, and brought six cases before the courts. Complementing this, the Commonwealth Fraud and Corruption Control Framework mandates new anti-corruption measures for all Commonwealth agencies.

Australia's Third National Action Plan, published in December 2023, includes initiatives to improve transparency and reduce corruption risk, particularly in procurement and grants programmes. The establishment of a Beneficial Ownership Register is among the key measures.

Recognising the role of whistleblowers, Dreyfus said the government is enhancing protections through reforms to the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013. 

These reforms, which began alongside the National Anti-Corruption Commission, focus on safeguarding whistleblowers and witnesses, and streamlining the reporting process.

He also noted that the recent Crimes Legislation Amendment (Combatting Foreign Bribery) Act 2024 strengthens Australia’s stance on foreign bribery, making companies liable for their employees' actions unless adequate preventive measures are in place. 

Dreyfus said guidance on 'adequate procedures' for corporations will be published to help address foreign bribery risks effectively.

Dreyfus praised the Bribery Prevention Network, a public-private partnership involving the Attorney-General’s Department and Australian Federal Police. 

The Network provides resources to assist small and medium enterprises in developing anti-bribery compliance programmes, drawing on the expertise of larger companies.

He also noted that the government is advancing reforms to bolster Australia's resilience against financial crimes. 

These reforms aim to simplify and modernise the regime, addressing inefficiencies and extending regulations to high-risk sectors like law, accounting, and real estate. 

Dreyfus emphasised the importance of collaboration across all sectors to strengthen Australia’s integrity framework. 

“As Attorney-General, I am charged with strengthening the oversight, accountability, and transparency of Australia’s key public institutions. This is not something that I, with my department and portfolio agencies, can do alone,” he said, acknowledging the crucial role of business leaders, non-government organisations, and academics.

His full address has been published online.