G20 credibility now depends on action... and accountability! Anti-corruption outcomes from Brisbane
[Facilitator’s note: Thank you to A J Brown, Centre for
Governance & Public Policy, Queensland,
Dear friends and colleagues
Congratulations to all involved in
shepherding our G20 leaders to adopt a more focused, structured G20 Anti-Corruption Action Plan than ever
before, last weekend in our home town Brisbane -- especially Australian and
Italian anti-corruption working group co-chairs, Alex Taylor and Stefano
Mogini.
In the international media centre
(below), it became clear the new commitments were not just a side-story to the
Summit. Especially when US President Barak Obama listed the G20's new principles for cracking down on anonymous shell companies, the key
vehicles for international corruption, tax evasion and other illicit
activities, as number 3 on the list of summit outcomes.
Of course, the US Administration
continues to face major challenges in getting the necessary corporate
accountability reforms through the US Congress. It's a major problem when
it is US states like Delaware, not stereotypical little tax havens, that are the biggest
problems.
But the good news is, at least we all
know the US faces these challenges... and in the fine-print of the G20's Accountability Reports, also released last
weekend, the USA tells this truth about its own situation.
Not so, other countries unfortunately...
including this year's president, Australia, and next year's Turkey.
You can go to our program website, and listen to this morning's ABC Radio National Breakfast, for a brief analysis of some of the key
outcomes, and problems in the way that G20 countries are reporting their
performance against their anti-corruption commitments, on key issues like
beneficial ownership and whistleblower protection.
And why governments, IGOs, civil society
and experts need to work together on better monitoring and accountability in
the future.
There are also even bigger challenges for
the Australian government to live up to its achievements in the G20 process
this year. While focused on leading the world, a backlog of domestic
anti-corruption reforms has built up. My colleague Jason Sharman pointed out a couple more, in
this blog on the eve of the Summit.
Another little measure, due for release
very soon on 3 December, will be whether Australia is holding its position,
gaining or slipping on Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index. So keep
an eye out for that.
We look forward to keeping you up to date
on key research and policy issues arising from the G20 anti-corruption action
plan... and to supporting the Turkish and US co-chairs of the G20
Anti-Corruption Working Group, and civil society colleagues led by Transparency
International Turkey's Oya Ozarslan, in the important work of the G20 in
2015.
With best wishes
Dr A J Brown
Professor of Public Policy & Law
Program Leader, Public Integrity &
Anti-Corruption
Centre for Governance & Public
Policy, Griffith University, Nathan QLD 4111 Australi
