Publications

Controlling fraud, waste and abuse in the public sector

Peter N Grabosky
Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 1991

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Abstract

The value of public resources lost each year in Australia because of fraud, waste and abuse defies precise quantification, but almost certainly runs to many millions of dollars. In the climate of fiscal restraint which has become normal for all Australian governments, it is more important than ever that public funds are managed responsibly. There are three basic modes of government activity in which fraud can occur - paying, collecting and contracting. This report suggests various methods of positive incentives, detection, investigation and sanctions to help Australian Governments reduce the risk of fraud, waste and abuse. Given the diversity which characterises the Australian public sector, some approaches will be more appropriate in some settings than others. It is incumbent upon public sector managers to identify and to implement the most effective and efficient mix of countermeasures.

Contents

• Introduction
• Defining fraud, waste & abuse
• Prevention
• Information clearinghouse on corporate compliance
• Positive incentives
• Detection
• Investigation
• Sanctioning
• Conclusion
• References