DIRTY MONEY_ Austrade faces scrutiny in bribery scandal

Austrade faces scrutiny in bribery scandal

Richard Baker and Nick McKenzie
December 2, 2011

AUSTRALIA's trade agency has been forced to introduce an anti-bribery policy and training for staff amid calls for an investigation into its role in the Reserve Bank bribery scandal.

At least five Austrade officials have been questioned by the Australian Federal Police over their dealings with RBA subsidiaries Securency and Note Printing Australia.

While no Austrade officials have been charged, The Age has since 2009 reported a series of cases where senior trade officials strongly supported high-risk activities by the RBA firms in corruption-prone countries.

It was revealed yesterday that one of Austrade's most senior officials, David Twine, met an arms dealer hired by Securency to open doors in India and another high-ranking official was aware of massive payments to a Vietnamese intelligence officer in a bid to win contracts.

Mr Twine left Austrade in October after his role was abolished in a restructure.

Austrade's move to improve its approach to foreign bribery came after The Age began reporting in 2009 on its close ties to the RBA firms. Acting on advice from the AFP and external lawyers, almost 800 Austrade staff have had anti-bribery training since last year. Austrade has also established an ethics committee.

Other measures include:

■Warnings to clients that Austrade will not assist those suspected of engaging in bribery.

■Anti-bribery workshops and an annual governance and anti-bribery test for staff.

Austrade has worked with Securency and NPA in 49 countries, including Vietnam, Nepal, Indonesia and Malaysia, where federal police allege multi-million-dollar bribes were paid.

Greens MP Adam Bandt yesterday renewed his call for an inquiry into the RBA banknote scandal. ''There is a real smell around this affair and the government must clear the air,'' he said. "The government must find out who else in Austrade and the department knew what was going on to secure these banknote contracts. Only a full and independent inquiry can get to the bottom of this failure of governance.''

Trade Minister Craig Emerson's office yesterday maintained there had been no impropriety allegations made against Austrade or its staff over the banknote scandal.

''If anyone has any evidence of wrongdoing by any official, that evidence should be given to the police as the appropriate investigating authority,'' a spokesman said. In outlining its governance reforms, Austrade said while a review of its operations in relation to anti-bribery obligations ''did not indicate that existing activities or services were inappropriate, recommendations were provided on potential enhancements''.


Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/national/austrade-faces-scrutiny-in-bribery-scandal-20111201-1o95n.html#ixzz1fPMmb7UQ



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