Australia stands with Thailand in anti-graft fight

Corruption is detrimental for all business, large and small, global and local. It stifles economic growth, distorts markets and presents serious legal and reputation risks. It discourages investment by acting as a hidden “tax”, increasing costs for companies and their customers. 

But just as troubling is the fact that corruption undermines democracy and the rule of law, leads to human rights violations and facilitates organised crime, terrorism and other threats to human security.

December 9, which marks International Anti-Corruption Day, is a reminder that no country – no matter its level of development – is immune from the scourge of corruption. It is also a reminder that no government can deal with corruption single-handedly: partnership with the private sector, civil society and the media is essential. 

On International Anti-Corruption Day last year, I addressed the National Anti-Corruption Commission of Thailand, and set out a firm commitment of the Australian government and people on stamping out this scourge. 

Each country will have its own way of dealing with corruption and there is no single “right answer” to this problem. 

Australia, for instance, has no equivalent to Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission – at the federal level, we address the problem through a multi-agency approach. The Australian Federal Police has the primary responsibility for investigating serious graft allegations. Other agencies, including the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity (ACLEI), the Commonwealth Ombudsman and the Auditor-General all play vital roles in deterring, disrupting and detecting corrupt behaviour. 

The Australian government works to ensure that companies operating overseas, including here in Thailand, are aware of the imperative to avoid corrupt practices, such as bribing foreign officials. Under Australian law, bribing a foreign public official is a serious offence, which carries heavy penalties. 

There is now a global consensus to stamp out corruption. International cooperation is essential to achieve this goal. 

In total 177 countries, including Australia and Thailand, have joined the UN Convention against Corruption. Australia is also a party to the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention. These treaties impose obligations on countries to address bribery and corruption and provide tools to help nations to cooperate.

Implementation is imperfect, and there is much more to be done. But the balance is tipping from tolerance to enforcement. People are increasingly calling for action, and governments are responding.

An effective public sector and functioning, predictable institutions provide the foundations for economic growth, private sector investment and trade.

For these reasons, effective governance is one of the six priorities in Australia’s aid policy. And initiatives to strengthen anti-corruption frameworks are a key part of our aid investments. 

Thailand has acknowledged the effect corruption has in perpetuating human trafficking, and the Australia-Asia Programme to Combat Trafficking in Persons is working with Thai investigators, prosecutors and judges to strengthen Thailand’s criminal justice institutions to fairly address this.

No country will ever be able to declare victory in its efforts to stamp out corrupt practices. But neither should we despair: by working together, sharing our experiences and redoubling our commitments, we can achieve success in eliminating the scourge of corruption. 

 

Paul Robilliard (@AusAmbBkk) is Australia’s ambassador to Thailand.