Element 4: Influential

Table of contents

Fraud and Corruption – A Guide for Policy Makers

What it means to be influential: Policy advice should be compelling, resonate with decision-makers, and drive action by aligning with government priorities and public expectations.

Being influential through a fraud and corruption lens: Frame the policy’s approach to fraud and corruption as a selling point that enhances its credibility and public trust. This means:

  • Demonstrating to decision-makers how reducing these impacts aligns with broader government integrity agendas (e.g. the National Anti-Corruption Commission or the APS Reform priorities).
  • Highlighting the cost of inaction – financial losses, reputational damage, and eroded public confidence – to make a persuasive case for robust controls. You could highlight data (such as the hundreds of millions lost annually to detected fraud against the Commonwealth) to underscore the importance of building-in integrity measures.
  • Engaging stakeholders by showing how integrity measures protect their interests, making the policy or initiative more likely to gain their support.
  • You could also link fraud and corruption prevention to public narratives about fairness and accountability, ensuring the policy resonates with ministers, senior executives and the community.

You should ask yourself: ‘How can I best explain what is needed to manage fraud and corruption impacts? Who can help me develop compelling and evidence-based advice about this?

What this looks like in action

Examples of key stakeholders you may want to engage along the way include:

  • Fraud and corruption control and/or risk practitioners: These practitioners in your entity are your first point of call – as they possess knowledge and skills to help you apply an evidence-led approach to design a policy or initiative. Engaging with practitioners across the APS or other jurisdictions may also help gather evidence and build credibility.
  • Senior executives and decision-makers: Engaging with these stakeholders should occur early and throughout the design process and requires openness about the potential for fraud or corruption impacts, proposed options – including positives and negatives – and recommended solutions to address fraud and corruption against the policy or initiative. The way messages are delivered should consider the motives and context of these stakeholders.
  • Commonwealth Fraud Prevention Centre: The Centre can provide strategic support and advice to officials responsible for designing and implementing new policies and initiatives. Contact info@Counterfraud.gov.au for assistance.
  • National Anti-Corruption Commission: The NACC is an independent Commonwealth agency who detect, investigate and report on serious or systemic corruption in the Commonwealth public sector. The NACC also have a role in educating the public service, and the public, about corruption risks and prevention. Find more information about corrupt conduct on the NACC’s website or contact prevention@NACC.gov.au for assistance.

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