Outline

1
Outline

• Political theory about the relationship
• Problems of definition
• The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption
  (ICAC)
• Metherall case - community standards? Code?
• Wollongong - ALP caucus on Development
  applications
• Other issues in Australia
• Peter.Larmour_at_anu.edu.au

2
Corruption and Democracy

• Aristotle
• Perversion of types of government
• James Madison
• Institutional engineering (checks and balances)
• Transparency internationals integrity system
• Robert Klitgaards c monopoly discretion -
  accountabilty
• Carl Schmitt
• Feebleness of parliamentary democracy (Weimar)
• Gary Stoker
• a source of disenchantment with democracy
• Mark Philp
• Diverse visions of naturally wholesome
• Mark Warren
• Duplicitious exclusion (meta norms of democracy)

3
Types of corruption

• Petty
• visible, small, for services
• Grand
• invisible, large, for contracts/procurement
• Policy or state capture
• legal, changing law to suit interests (Thaksin)
• Rent seeking versus rent seizing
• whats the problem in a mixed economy?

4
Dictionary definition

• willing to act dishonestly in return for money or
  personal gain
• evil or morally depraved
• (of a text or computer data) made unreliable by
  errors or alterations
• Rotten or putrid
• Source Oxford English Dictionary

5
Types of social science definition

• Legal
• no independent standard to judge law
• Public office-centred
• formal and informal rules
• Public interest-centred
• consequences
• Market-centred
• but subset of public office
• Public opinion
• variable

6
Modern liberal definitions

• Individual departures from rules and norms of
  public office for reasons of private gain
  (Warren 2004)
• The use of public office for private gain
  (World Bank)

7
Problems with Modern definition

• Norms may rightly be contested and change in a
  democracy
• what is naturally wholesome
• Focus on rules rather than personal integrity and
  professionalism
• Individualistic
• Focus on state not society or economy

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NSW Independent commission Against Corruption

• ..dishonest or partial exercise of official
  functions
• dishonest withholding relevant information
• partial (dis) advantaging someone for an
  unacceptable reason
• (NSW ICAC Act)
• Metherall case
• Premier offered backbencher a job if he would
  resign
• Greiners argument about community standards
• High Court overturned case in absence of Code
• Wollongong City Council case
• Unconforming development applications approved
• Improper relations between developers and
  pro-development officials
• Political contributions to councillors
• ALP caucus discipline in votes on Development
  Applications

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Some issues in/for Australia

• Reputation in Transparency International Rankings
• Impact of AWB scandal
• State and federal issues
• Anti Corruption Commissions in NSW, Qld, WA
• Role of Australian Electoral Commission
• Codes of Conduct (and enforceability)
• Travel
• Ministerial staff
• Relations with lobbyists/revolving doors
• Ministerial discretions (eg visas)
• Power of media (Murdoch/ABC)
• Guarding the guards
• police corruption
• Inspectors for ICAC, AFP/Crime Commission,
  Intelligence
• NSW ICAC investigation of NSW MPs housing claims

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Useful Anti Corruption Websites

• http//www.icac.org.hk/
• http//www.icac.nsw.gov.au/
• http//www.transparency.org/
• http//www.u4.no/about/main.cfm
• http//www1.worldbank.org/publicsector/anticorrupt
  /index.cfm
• http//tiri.open-door-solutions.com/
• www.ancorage-net.org