Perceptions of corruption are growing in Australia, and it's costing the economy
- Written by Tony Ward, Fellow in Historical Studies, The University of Melbourne
The Australian government has decided not to establish a federal anti-corruption watchdog this parliamentary term, despite a promise in December 2018[1] to deliver an integrity commission
with teeth, resources and proper processes that will protect the integrity of Australia’s Commonwealth public administration
In the three years since that promise was made, Australia has slipped[2] further down the international corruption league tables.
On the respected Corruption Perceptions Index compiled by Transparency International[3], it is now in 18th position, down from 13th in 2018.
A decade ago Australia was seventh.
The Corruption Perceptions Index both ranks and rates countries on a scale out of 100. Australia’s score in 2012 was 85. In 2021 it was 73.
This 12-point drop is, along with Hungary’s fall from 55 to 43[4], equal worst among the 38 nations in the OECD – the economies with institutions and cultures most comparable to Australia.
New Zealand, by comparison, has consistently been in the top three, with scores between 88 and 91.
