2018 is a watershed year in anti-bribery law reform and enforcement efforts in Australia.
To facilitate an understanding of how these law reforms impact your operations, the UN Global Compact Network Australia is holding its annual National Dialogue on Bribery and Corruption on 3 May 2018. The dialogue is an opportunity to engage with key law enforcement and regulatory authorities on these reforms – the AFP, Attorney Generals Department, DPP, ASIC and DFAT will present at and participate in this dialogue. It will be conducted under Chatham House rules.
Key developments on the Federal Government’s agenda include:
- Introduction of a new corporate offence of failure to prevent bribery – on an absolute liability basis;
- Introduction of guidelines as to what comprises ‘adequate procedures’ that prevent attribution of this offence to a corporate;
- Amendments to the existing foreign bribery offence to tighten and strengthen its application;
- Introduction of deferred prosecution agreements; and
- Operation of the AFP and CDPP Best Practice Guidelines on Self-Reporting of Foreign Bribery and Related Offending by Corporations that were introduced in December last year.
These reforms fundamentally change the landscape for domestic or foreign bribery involving business in Australia.
Please find the Agenda here.
Summary Documents
2018 Australian Dialogue on Bribery and Corruption Briefing Document
2018 Australian Dialogue on Bribery and Corruption Summary Document