20-13 Managing fraud and corruption risks during the COVID-19 pandemic
| Category: Circular to Councils | Status: Active |
| Circular Details: 20-13 / 22 April 2020 / A698229 | Contact: Council Governance Team / (02) 4428 4100 / olg@olg.nsw.gov.au |
| Previous Circular: 20-06 | Attachments: Nil |
| Who should read this: General Managers / Council governance staff | Action required: Information |
| PDF Version: | Council Circular 20-13 – PDF |
What’s new or changing?
- Councils have been required to dramatically change the way they function in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Councils are also increasingly turning to web conferencing systems to connect online and to share and transfer files and information.
- Two new resources have been issued to assist Government agencies (including councils) to manage the fraud and corruption risks associated with these changes to their operations:
- the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption’s (ICAC) Managing corrupt conduct during the COVID-19 outbreak, and
- the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s Web Conferencing Security.
- Councils are encouraged to consider these resources and to make any necessary changes to their operations and internal control framework in response to the guidance provided in them.
Key points
- The risks of opportunistic and systemic fraud and corruption can become more prevalent during periods of significant disruption such as the current COVID-19 pandemic.
- To assist agencies to address this risk, ICAC has issued Managing corrupt conduct during the COVID-19 outbreak. This provides guidance on fraud and corruption risks associated with:
- working from home
- procurement and purchasing
- cyber fraud and online hoaxes, and
- stimulus funding and new programs.
- The Australian Cyber Security Centre has also issued guidance onWeb Conferencing Security. This provides guidance on the use of online web conferencing and collaboration tools and the management of associated privacy, security and legal risks.
Where to go for further information
- Managing corrupt conduct during the COVID-19 outbreak is available here.
- Web Conferencing Security is available here.
- Councils can subscribe to the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s Stay Smart Online Alert Service here for automatic updates on emerging online security threats.
- Email Mr Lewis Rangott, Executive Director, Corruption Prevention, ICAC, at lrangott@icac.nsw.gov.au for more information about how to manage fraud and corruption risks in your council.
- Report any suspicion of fraud or corruption to ICAC at icac@icac.nsw.gov.au.
Tim Hurst
Deputy Secretary, Local Government, Planning and Policy