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Australians think media and political parties are most corrupt institutions Australians think media and political parties are most corrupt institutions
(2 months later)
Australians rank political parties and the media as the most corrupt institutions in the country, according to the latest Global Corruption Barometer.Australians rank political parties and the media as the most corrupt institutions in the country, according to the latest Global Corruption Barometer.
The Barometer, by the corruption watchdog Transparency International, surveyed more than 100,000 people worldwide about their perceptions of, experiences with, and responses to corruption in their daily life.The Barometer, by the corruption watchdog Transparency International, surveyed more than 100,000 people worldwide about their perceptions of, experiences with, and responses to corruption in their daily life.
“Our results show around the world that people see corruption when there is corruption,” Dr Robin Hodess, group director of advocacy and research for Transparency International told Guardian Australia.“Our results show around the world that people see corruption when there is corruption,” Dr Robin Hodess, group director of advocacy and research for Transparency International told Guardian Australia.
When a survey asked how serious a problem respondents believed corruption was in their own country, the global average was 4.1 on a scale of one to five, where one means “not a problem at all” and five is “a very serious problem”.When a survey asked how serious a problem respondents believed corruption was in their own country, the global average was 4.1 on a scale of one to five, where one means “not a problem at all” and five is “a very serious problem”.
Australia’s aggregate was 3.6, which put it in the top 16 of the 107 nations surveyed. More than half of Australians surveyed said corruption had increased over the last two years.Australia’s aggregate was 3.6, which put it in the top 16 of the 107 nations surveyed. More than half of Australians surveyed said corruption had increased over the last two years.
Around the same proportion – 58% – ranked political parties and the media as guilty of being corrupt or “extremely corrupt”, a higher percentage than for all other institutions the survey asked about.Around the same proportion – 58% – ranked political parties and the media as guilty of being corrupt or “extremely corrupt”, a higher percentage than for all other institutions the survey asked about.
The key institutions respondents were asked to choose from were: political parties, police, judiciary, public officials or civil servants, parliament or legislature, medical and health services, media, religious bodies, and business or private sector, education systems, the military, and NGOs.The key institutions respondents were asked to choose from were: political parties, police, judiciary, public officials or civil servants, parliament or legislature, medical and health services, media, religious bodies, and business or private sector, education systems, the military, and NGOs.
On a scale of one to five, five being “extremely corrupt”, the media and political parties scored 3.6 among Australians, up 0.3 on the last survey in 2010/11.On a scale of one to five, five being “extremely corrupt”, the media and political parties scored 3.6 among Australians, up 0.3 on the last survey in 2010/11.
“We see a real problem that links to a lack of transparency, particularly in terms of political funding. There are too few enforced rules around the world,” said Hodess.“We see a real problem that links to a lack of transparency, particularly in terms of political funding. There are too few enforced rules around the world,” said Hodess.
“Companies and individuals need to report what they’re contributing. It’s up to parties to open up about what interests are involved in the policy-making process.”“Companies and individuals need to report what they’re contributing. It’s up to parties to open up about what interests are involved in the policy-making process.”
Prof Charles Sampford, author and director of the Griffith University Institute for Ethics, Governance & Law, believes the Australian results are about perceptions of the risk, more than the materialisation of corruption in Australian institutions.Prof Charles Sampford, author and director of the Griffith University Institute for Ethics, Governance & Law, believes the Australian results are about perceptions of the risk, more than the materialisation of corruption in Australian institutions.
Sampford said there was a risk of corruption “where electioneering requires high levels of expenditure”.Sampford said there was a risk of corruption “where electioneering requires high levels of expenditure”.
He said: “The risk [there] is obvious. The question of whether the risk has materialised or not is another question. I’m not at all surprised that a lot of voters would be concerned that the risk had materialised.”He said: “The risk [there] is obvious. The question of whether the risk has materialised or not is another question. I’m not at all surprised that a lot of voters would be concerned that the risk had materialised.”
When it came to media, Sampford said the industry had a long history of “barons” being frank about why they like owning media empires: the power.When it came to media, Sampford said the industry had a long history of “barons” being frank about why they like owning media empires: the power.
“It’s a really important power because most media are both part of the market and part of democracy. They have a critical role in democracy and providing information for people to make their reasoned or otherwise choices at elections, but it’s also part of the market,” he said.“It’s a really important power because most media are both part of the market and part of democracy. They have a critical role in democracy and providing information for people to make their reasoned or otherwise choices at elections, but it’s also part of the market,” he said.
“Most of the biggest corruption risks we have is where those two intercept ... The media has the capacity, not to control, but to influence political decision, which means that politicians feel they actually have to anticipate what media owners want and avoid getting them cross.”“Most of the biggest corruption risks we have is where those two intercept ... The media has the capacity, not to control, but to influence political decision, which means that politicians feel they actually have to anticipate what media owners want and avoid getting them cross.”
It is not just the media that Australians see as having an unsavoury connection with government.It is not just the media that Australians see as having an unsavoury connection with government.
More than half of Australians surveyed thought the government was run by big business. They weren’t alone in their suspicions; 55% of people across the globe believed the same thing about their own government. There were only two nations in the single digits for this: Norway and Rwanda.More than half of Australians surveyed thought the government was run by big business. They weren’t alone in their suspicions; 55% of people across the globe believed the same thing about their own government. There were only two nations in the single digits for this: Norway and Rwanda.
The survey also found that one in four people on the planet reported paying a bribe in the last year, a figure Hodess said was “phenomenal”.The survey also found that one in four people on the planet reported paying a bribe in the last year, a figure Hodess said was “phenomenal”.
“Bribery costs lives around the world,” she said.“Bribery costs lives around the world,” she said.
“This is about what people report. Probably a lot more bribery is happening.”“This is about what people report. Probably a lot more bribery is happening.”
The bribery results varied widely country to country.The bribery results varied widely country to country.
Of the services listed (education, judiciary, health, police, registry and permits, utilities, tax revenue and/or customs, and land services), police were the most often bribed institution, followed by the judiciary.Of the services listed (education, judiciary, health, police, registry and permits, utilities, tax revenue and/or customs, and land services), police were the most often bribed institution, followed by the judiciary.
The issue of bribery corruption is a much bigger problem in the developing world, with Sierra Leone and Liberia reporting over 75% of people had paid a bribe to a service.The issue of bribery corruption is a much bigger problem in the developing world, with Sierra Leone and Liberia reporting over 75% of people had paid a bribe to a service.
In Australia on average just 1% of people who had come into contact with any of the eight services reported paying a bribe.In Australia on average just 1% of people who had come into contact with any of the eight services reported paying a bribe.
Of those Australians who did, 36% did it for a cheaper deal, 32% because it was the only way to obtain the service, and 28% as a gift or thanks.Of those Australians who did, 36% did it for a cheaper deal, 32% because it was the only way to obtain the service, and 28% as a gift or thanks.
The report did not just measure the global population’s dissatisfaction with corruption – it also looked at what they would do about it.The report did not just measure the global population’s dissatisfaction with corruption – it also looked at what they would do about it.
There was little tolerance for corruption in Australia – 92% of Australian respondents said they would report an incident. It was slightly above the world average.There was little tolerance for corruption in Australia – 92% of Australian respondents said they would report an incident. It was slightly above the world average.
Almost nine in 10 people across the globe told Transparency International they would act against corruption.Almost nine in 10 people across the globe told Transparency International they would act against corruption.
“I think people are sufficiently frustrated now with the perception of corruption around them in society that they now want to act, they want to be a part of change,” said Hodess.“I think people are sufficiently frustrated now with the perception of corruption around them in society that they now want to act, they want to be a part of change,” said Hodess.
“We do see people around the world taking to the streets. We hope for constructive change, and the anger around the world is something that politicians have to pay attention to.“We do see people around the world taking to the streets. We hope for constructive change, and the anger around the world is something that politicians have to pay attention to.
“The challenge for both of us – government and civil society – is to now take action and really put some of the remedies in place to make sure the situation improves.”“The challenge for both of us – government and civil society – is to now take action and really put some of the remedies in place to make sure the situation improves.”
Hodess called on G20 nations – who are meeting in Australia next year – to keep corruption on the agenda. She said while most G20 nations had signed the OECD anti-bribery convention, which deals with bribery in international business, there was a lack of prosecutions.Hodess called on G20 nations – who are meeting in Australia next year – to keep corruption on the agenda. She said while most G20 nations had signed the OECD anti-bribery convention, which deals with bribery in international business, there was a lack of prosecutions.
“We now need them to take action,” she said, “and really do abroad what you do at home. You can’t have two standards for business or government.”“We now need them to take action,” she said, “and really do abroad what you do at home. You can’t have two standards for business or government.”
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