G20’s Anti-Corruption Action Plan scrutinised

Professor AJ Brown with Greg Thompson, Oya Özarslan and Maggie Murphy, (Transparency International).
Professor AJ Brown with Greg Thompson, Oya Özarslan and Maggie Murphy (Transparency International).

With their adoption of a third two-year Anti-Corruption Action Plan, G20 leaders have officially acknowledged the threats posed by corruption to economic growth and resilience.

But while Barack Obama listed anti-corruption measures among his top three outcomes of the Brisbane summit, questions are today being asked about the seriousness of governments’ efforts to implement such plans.

“Some G20 commitments essentially repeat promises made by most countries since 2003,” Professor A JBrown, Centre for Governance and Public Policy, Griffith University, says.

In an analysis published today, ProfessorBrownwelcomes the progress but also describes as ‘dubious overstatements’ the claims of twelve G20 countries about having already implemented whistleblowing laws.

He also challenges the Australian government on how it will implement its own commitments as outgoing G20 president.

“If nothing else, it is clear that the level and quality of accountability reporting of G20 countries on what they areactuallydoing, under Turkey’s presidency in 2015 and thereafter, needs a massive shake-up.”

Read ProfessorBrown’s full paper here.