Fraud and corruption prevention
What is corruption?
Source: NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC)
What we do to prevent fraud and corruption
Councillors and staff must meet high standards of integrity and accountability when doing business with, and delivering services to, the community.
We have a responsibility to:
- protect taxpayer funded resources and assets from fraud and corruption
- ensure that our decisions and actions are free from fraud and corruption
Our governance team educates Councillors and staff about the risks of fraud and corruption and how to best recognise and report serious wrongdoing. The team investigates fraud and corruption reports and facilitates the implementation of remediating actions.
What you can do to help prevent fraud and corruption
Businesses and members of the public can help us to maintain high standards of integrity by:
- not pressuring Councillors and staff to overlook their ethical obligations
- disclosing likely conflicts of interest
- deterring unethical practices and fraud by reporting concerns
How to report fraud and corruption concerns
Despite our efforts to control and prevent fraud and corruption, serious wrongdoing may occur. Unethical conduct by Councillors or staff is not acceptable and should be reported.
Reports, based on honest beliefs and reasonable ground, are investigated promptly, professionally and in confidence.
If you have any concerns about the conduct of a Council official, we encourage you to:
Contact our governance team
Phone: (02) 4993 4100
Email: governance@cessnock.nsw.gov.au
Complete our online reporting form
Reporting Suspicions of Fraudulent or Corrupt Conduct Form
If you are not comfortable reporting directly to Council, you may wish to contact the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).
Phone: (02) 8281 5999
Email: icac@icac.nsw.gov.au
Website: Report corruption - Independent Commission Against Corruption (nsw.gov.au)
Confidentiality is of the utmost importance
We will not tolerate detrimental action taken against people reporting wrongdoing. We are committed to the principles of the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2022 (NSW) where we will:
- facilitate and encourage reporting of serious wrongdoing
- protect those who make public interest disclosures
- enable those with sufficient authority to correct systematic and recurring governance issues
Source: NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC)