Fraud and Corruption Control Plan snapshot 2025–2027

Fraud and corruption statement

We take fraud and corruption seriously. We demonstrate our commitment to preventing fraud and corruption through a wide range of proactive prevention, detection and governance activities and a strong response.

Accountable authority

Our secretary is the accountable authority under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act). 

Our secretary is responsible for ensuring we have the appropriate fraud control mechanisms in place. This is in line with section 10 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Rule 2014 (Fraud Rule).

Fraud and Corruption Control Officer (FCCO)

The FCCO’s role is to prevent, detect, and deal with fraud and corruption. 

Fraud and corruption risk assessments ensure we consider the department’s vulnerabilities and have appropriate mechanisms in place to manage these risks. 

The Fraud and Corruption Control Team works with fraud risk stewards and relevant control owners to test the effectiveness of controls. 

We expect all staff to consider fraud and corruption risks when undertaking their business-as-usual tasks, commencing new work or making decisions

Fraud and corruption prevention is the most effective and cost-effective control to countering fraud and corruption.

Prevention is our first line of defence against fraud and corruption. Our staff play a key role in prevention by understanding their responsibilities and by recognising suspicious information and behaviour.

We have numerous controls that focus on prevention. These controls cover broader fraud control arrangements, including in the areas of: 

• financial management, including procurement and contract management 
• grants administration 
• information handling and information technology
• probity processes and systems. 
• staff oversight and management. 

Culture and capability

We are committed to a strong anti-fraud and corruption culture. This includes through various staff engagement activities and through intelligence sharing activities with other Australian Government agencies. 

We maintain a ‘safe to speak up’ workplace which supports and empowers staff to speak up when suspected fraud or corruption occurs. 

Staff are encouraged to remain aware of our fraud control arrangements and the Fraud and Corruption Control Plan. 

We have designed our detection controls to monitor and detect fraudulent or corrupt activity. 

Fraud detection activities include both passive and active controls. Passive controls include mechanisms that support reporting of suspected fraud or corruption. Active controls work to detect fraud or corruption like data matching, targeted assurance activities, hot spot analysis and internal audits. 

In addition, our Insider Threat Program detects and addresses the full spectrum of insider threats, including fraud. 

Report

Staff, contractors, program recipients (individuals or entities receiving government programs or funding), and members of the public play a critical role in detecting fraud and corruption. 

All staff must be aware of correct practice with regard to fraud and corruption. In addition, all staff must report suspected fraud and corruption. 

We have several ways for department staff to report suspected fraud or corruption:

Email Publicinterestdisclosures@industry.gov.au to make a public interest disclosure about a possible fraud matter.

You can report serious or systemic corruption to the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

We treat all reports of fraud and corruption seriously and in confidence. We will assess all reports, and where appropriate, undertake an investigation. 

There are circumstances where we must report serious fraud or corruption concerns to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) or the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).

We carry out internal monitoring and assurance activities to test our fraud and corruption controls and their effectiveness.

In addition, we undertake a range of internal and external reporting to our governance committees and senior executive. Investigators also contribute expertise and advice on controls or program design. Investigation findings may inform recommendations for process improvements.

We regularly review the processes outlined in the Fraud and Corruption Control Plan to ensure we achieve intended outcomes. 

The plan undergoes an extensive review every 2 years or when there are substantial changes in the department’s structure, functions or activities.