[4] The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) was established in 1989 to improve the integrity of the public service.
The ICAC holds a large amount of investigative powers including listening devices and telephone interception.
Its powers include the ability to call witnesses to hearings, and require individuals to produce evidence.
[7] The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) is the key body that investigates corruption within Victoria.
The commission is designed to investigate corruption in the public service such as councils, parliament, the judiciary and other government bodies.
[13][14] Transparency International described Australia's score of 77 in the 2020 Index as a 'significant decliner', having fallen eight points since 2012,[15] and called Australia's score of 73 in the 2021 Index 'one of the world's most significant decliners, having dropped 12 points since 2012 to hit a record low this year.
[18] In January 2018, a discussion paper published by the Australia Institute, suggested that the trust in the Australian government is at a historical low, which could have reduced the GDP by as much as 4% or $72.3 billion.
[14] A report by Australian Public Service Commission's released in 2018, stated that investigations were conducted in only 0.3% of the workforce, meaning a total of 596 employees.
[23] Another small neighbour, the Solomon Islands recently appointed its first director general for its Independent Commission against Corruption.