A review into claims against the Home Affairs department found it engaged in contracts with companies suspected of money laundering, bribery and other crimes
KEY FINDINGS FROM REVIEW:
* Under Australia's offshore processing system, the government's home affairs department had contracts with companies suspected of money laundering, bribery, drugs and arms smuggling, corruption, and breaching sanctions against Iran
* Home Affairs may have been forced to enter these contracts as it was operating in a high pressure environment, but there was a lack of proper due diligence regardless
* There was no evidence of ministerial involvement in the contract or procurement decisions and no matter of deliberate wrongdoing or criminality
* The flow of information from the Australian Federal Police to the Department of Home Affairs was inadequate at times
* No individuals were referred to the Australian Federal Police or the National-Anti Corruption Commission, though three consented to having their details passed to these agencies
RECOMMENDATIONS
* The home affairs department should undertake risk-informed due diligence when procuring and managing contracts, especially when engaging with small companies in risky environments
* It should also consider the environment a contract is delivered and the ethical conduct of tenderers, suppliers and supply chains
* The department should facilitate and promote a more open environment to encourage collaboration, cooperation and information sharing
* A protocol should be developed for lawfully sharing law enforcement and intelligence information with federal government entities as this would help inform procurement and contract decisions in high-risk environments
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