Have you seen a notable rise in the level of corporate
fraud, bribery and corruption in Australia in recent
years?
It is impossible to determine the exact levels of economic crime
perpetrated in Australia, but available data suggests that there
has been an increase in its incidence over recent years. Although
Australia weathered the global financial crisis better than most
other developed countries, the tumultuous economic climate appears
to have created an environment in which fraud is more readily
perpetrated within and against corporations. This may be due to
weakening fraud controls within organisations as a result of
'job-shedding', combined with increased personal hardship
and/or more difficult performance targets which provide an added
'incentive' to commit fraud. Recent data suggests that
economic crime within and against Australian corporations is
increasing. In terms of bribery and corrupt conduct engaged in, by
or on behalf of corporations, media reports
