Skip navigation
  1. Home
  2. Resources
  3. Australia’s national integrity system: The blueprint for action
November 24, 2020

Australia’s national integrity system: The blueprint for action

National Integrity System
We want a more accountable government, a democracy governed with transparency, accountability and integrity.

Australia’s National Integrity System: The Blueprint for Action shows us how we can build a stronger, fairer and more accountable system of government.

This comprehensive blueprint looks at Australia’s whole framework of integrity institutions and shows us how we can act to make our system better.

From greater transparency over political lobbying and donations, to stronger protection for whistleblowers, to a strong and independent anti-corruption watchdog, this report lays out the essential reforms we need to drive greater transparency, accountability and integrity.

The report’s findings are set out across 5 focus areas and 10 actions to prioritise over the next 3-5 years. View each of the five sections below.

Download the report
Download the summary
Download the background

 

Browse the 5 focus areas below

Explore the five focus areas of the report in the list below the infograph

A: A connected national integrity plan

We need to work together to tackle corruption.

We need a coordinated national framework in which federal, state and territory agencies work better together – and with civil society, business and international partners. We need a connected approach as a part of a unified system. Our institutions need the scope, the mandate and the funding to tackle corruption effectively.

Read the focus area
national integrity commission

B: A strong federal integrity commission

We need a strong anti-corruption watchdog, with the power to hold the powerful to account.

Australians are loudly demanding that our politicians and public servants act with honesty, transparency and integrity. We need a strong, effective and well-coordinated national integrity commission that can prevent, detect and stop corruption.

Read the focus area

C: Open, trustworthy decision making

We need to trust that decision-making is fair, honest and free of undue influence.

We need greater transparency over lobbying, checks on undue influence and a code of conduct for parliamentarians. We need simple and consistent rules to prevent unfair influence over policy and funding decisions.

Read the focus area

D: Fair, honest democracy

We need elections to be conducted with greater fairness and integrity

We need caps on political campaign expenditure, donation limits and real-time disclosure for donations. We need sanctions against misleading or deceptive campaign conduct intended to influence someone’s vote; and an extension of parliamentary and lobbying codes of conduct to all political candidates.

Read the focus area
whistleblowing

E: Public interest whistleblowing

We need to value the contribution of whistleblowers to the integrity of our democracy

We need consistent and world-leading protection for whistleblowers and public interest journalism. We need a whistleblowing protection authority to provide better assistance to reporters, investigative agencies and regulators.

Read the focus area

Background

This research followed Transparency International’s long-established method of assessing a country’s effectiveness at preventing and addressing corruption. TI’s National Integrity System approach assesses a country’s anti-corruption efficacy sector by sector. It allows a nuanced analysis of national efforts to stamp out corruption.

This research was supported by the Australian Research Council and partners Transparency International Australia, Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission, Queensland Integrity Commissioner, NSW Ombudsman and Tasmanian Integrity Commission.

Led by Griffith University, the assessment project has included contributing researchers and authors from across Australia. Apart from desktop research, data collection included two national attitude and experience surveys, five stakeholder workshops, 50 face-to-face interviews, 107 National Integrity Survey responses and 40 comments received on the assessment’s 2019 draft report.

Download the background
Type:Report Place:Australia Topic:Lobbying Topic:Anti-corruption commissions Topic:Public integrity

Continue Reading

Read More
Submission
Australia|Lobbying|Submission
Submission: Political Lobbying (Integrity and Transparency) Bill

August 31, 2026

Download Transparency International Australia welcomes the opportunity to make a submission in relation to the Political Lobbying (Integrity and Transparency) Bill.Lobbying is a legitimate part of any democracy, helping decision-makers consider different policy options and ensuring constituents can be heard. The risk arises when...

Report
Pacific|Lobbying|Climate integrity|Report
Who's shaping climate action?

May 31, 2026

Download Who’s Shaping Climate Action? How weak lobbying rules and the revolving door put Australia’s climate and energy policy at risk analyses the federal Register of Lobbyists, revealing that the number of former government officials on the register grew from 36 in 2015 to...

Submission
Australia|Lobbying|Submission
Submission: Inquiry into lobbying arrangements in the ACT

May 28, 2026

Download Transparency International Australia welcomes the ACT Integrity Commission's inquiry into arrangements for lobbying and influence in government in the ACT and is pleased to make the following submission. The ACT's current lobbying scheme, unchanged in any comprehensive sense since its implementation in 2014,...