Fraud and CorruptionControl Policy

Version Adopted 27 March 2017

Approval Date: 27 March 2017

Review Date: Due 27 March 2019

DOCUMENT CONTROL

Responsible GM / General Manager Corporate
Division / Corporate Services
Last Updated
(who & when) / Manager Governance / 2016
DOCUMENT HISTORY
Authority / Date / Description of change
Council / 27 March 2017 / Council adopted policy
References / Refer to Section 8 and 9 of this policy
Next Review Date / 27 March 2019
Published on website / Yes
Document Reference No
  1. Background

Latrobe City Council is committed to the elimination of all forms of fraud and corruption and to creating an ethical environment and culture that discourages and prevents fraud and corruption.

  1. Objectives
  1. Scope
  1. Principles of Management
  1. Accountability and Responsibility

All Councillors and Council staff have a responsibility for preventing fraud and corruption as far as practicable.

Councillors set the tone and expected standards of behaviour from the top. They are ultimately responsible for ensuring that obligations under the Local Government Act 1989 are met and that they comply with specific obligations in the Councillor Code of Conduct.

Management is responsible for the prevention, detection and investigation of fraud and corruption and other irregularities that arise and reporting such occurrences. Each member of the management team will familiarise themselves with the types of improprieties that might occur within their area of responsibility and be alert for any indication of irregularity. Any irregularity that is detected orsuspected will be acted upon immediately.

Latrobe City Councilrequires all staff at all times to act honestly and with integrity and to safeguard Council’sresources for which they are responsible consistent with the staff Code of Conduct.

All staff are required to understand and discharge their responsibilities in relation to fraud andcorruption.

Other accountabilities and responsibilities are set out in the Fraud and Corruption Control Plan.

Accountability and responsibility for this policy is outlined below.

5.1.Council

  • Responsibility to ensure this Policy is consistent with Latrobe City Council Strategic Direction and other Latrobe City Council Policies.
  • Responsibility for the decision to approve this Policy by Council Resolution.
  • Chief Executive Officer
  • Overall responsibility for compliance with this policy;
  • Overall responsibility for enforcing accountability;
  • Overall responsibility for providing resources; and
  • Overall responsibility for performance monitoring and reporting.
  • General Manager
  • Responsibility for compliance with this policy;
  • Responsibility for enforcing accountability;
  • Responsibility for providing resources; and
  • Responsibility for performance monitoring and reporting.
  • Manager
  • Develop frameworks and procedures in compliance with this policy, including reporting requirements;
  • Enforce responsibilities to achieve compliance with frameworks and procedures; and
  • Provide appropriate resources for the execution of the frameworks and procedures.
  • Employees, Contractors and Volunteers
  • Participate where required in the development of frameworks and procedures in compliance with this policy; and
  • Comply with frameworks and procedures developed to achieve compliance with this policy.
  1. Evaluation and Review
  1. Definitions

Fraud is defined by the Commonwealth Fraud Control Guideline as:
”dishonestly obtaining a benefit, or causing a loss, by deception or other means”.

Fraud against Latrobe City Council may include (but is not limited to):

  • theft;
  • accounting fraud (false invoices, misappropriation etc);
  • unlawful use of or obtaining property, equipment, material or services;
  • causing a loss or avoiding and/or creating a liability;
  • providing false or misleading information to Latrobe City Council or failing to provide it when there is an obligationto do so;
  • misuse of Latrobe City Council’s assets, equipment or facilities;
  • makingor using false, forged or falsified documentsand wrongfully using Latrobe City Council’s information orintellectual property;
  • accepting or seeking anything of material value from contractors, vendors, licensees or persons providing services/materials to Latrobe City Council Victoria without appropriate compliance with the Gifts, Benefits andHospitality Policy.

Corrupt conduct has the meaning given in Section 4(1) of the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2011 as follows:

  • Person that adversely affects the honest performance by a public officer or public body of their functions;
  • Public officer or public body that constitutes or involves the dishonest performance of their functions;
  • Public officer that knowingly or recklessly breaches public trust;
  • Public officer or public body that involves the misuse of information or material acquired in the course of the performance of their role or function, whether or not for the benefit of the public body or person;
  • Public officer or public body who conspires or attempts to engage in the above corrupt activity.
  1. Related Documents
  1. Reference Resources

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Responsible Division / Corporate Services / Approved Date / 27 March 2017 / Review Date / 27 March 2017 /