The TI Australia position is that the establishment of a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) scheme in Australia, will only be an effective tool in combating bribery and corruption if it is part of a package of reform measures, and not viewed as a ’get- out-of-jail free’ card by offending corporates.
Unless the use of settlements for foreign bribery can be seen to be delivering real deterrence and effective sanctions, public confidence across the world in the fight against corruption will be undermined.