Three principles should guide our response: transparency, accountability and integrity.
We can steer ourselves out of this health and economic emergency by strengthening our democratic systems.
As the OECD also highlighted, we need to value:
Transparency over political decisions
This is particularly important for economic stimulus packages, procurement and economic bailouts for companies.
Supply constraints of medical equipment has highlighted procurement and corruption risks. The tables have been turned. Often companies engage in bidding wars to secure government contracts but now we see governments outbidding each other and paying high prices to secure scarce supplies.
While economic bailouts for companies may be needed, robust due diligence must be done to check who is the ultimate beneficiary and their track record, including tax evasion, involvement in crime and corruption and political links.
Anti-corruption controls to minimise the risk of corruption within the public service
Integrity risks within the public sector are heightened. With the usual checks and balances on hold, and attention diverted to the crisis, there is an added risk that decisions are made that could benefit family and friends. We could see a spike in conflict of interest and undue influence by special interest groups. And in corruption-prone jurisdictions an economic recession may leave poorly paid public servants open to bribery temptation.
The role of press freedom and whistleblowers
We need to come out of this crisis with a better understanding and recognition of the importance of press freedom, public interest journalism and the protection of whistleblowers.
Good governance and internal controls
Public trust in Government is contingent on open process, transparency and scrutiny. In Australia, Transparency International Australia and others have raised concerns about the National COVID Coordination Committee which lacks transparency, accountability and independent oversight. Appointments have been handpicked, which raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest as some sectors, such as energy and infrastructure are prioritised, and approvals fast-tracked in the recovery phase.
We can minimise corruption risks and build a better response to this emergency by being transparent and accountable.