Transparency International Australia is deeply concerned to learn of the links between the awarding of operating rights to PNG’s biggest ports and offshore payments to an Australian consultant.
This follows news this morning from OCCRP and ABC that recently murdered senior PNG Ports official Fego Kiniafa received benefits including money, racehorses and medical equipment from Don Matheson, the Australian consultant whose offshore account in Singapore received millions of dollars from the Manila-based corporation awarded the operations contract.
“This is a timely reminder of the destabilising and unjust nature of foreign bribery and its influence on the Pacific region,” says Transparency International Australia CEO Clancy Moore. “It risks the reputation of Australian trade and investment and interrupts fair economic development in poorer countries.
“With Australian companies involved in mining, construction, and infrastructure particularly exposed to corruption risks, it’s critical that such allegations are investigated fully, and that gaps in our foreign bribery prevention and prosecution framework are closed.”