Australians warned: Don't bribe foreign officials

Thu, August 2, 2007 : Last updated 15:54 pm

Australian businessmen and travellers abroad have been made more aware of the practices and processes of bribing officials of foreign countries with the release this week of the Australian government's Foreign Bribery Information and Awareness Pack

snip

The Nation

Don't expect to see many Aussie firms getting the nod on any major contracts around here then.

Australian government's Foreign Bribery Information and Awareness Pack

Is this a wind-up?

I work in the Export Industry and I all I have to say is

Don't expect to see many Aussie firms getting the nod on any major contracts around here then.

Australian government's Foreign Bribery Information and Awareness Pack

Is this a wind-up?

That's why you have consultant's fees and similar expenses.

This is a prime example of how naive some government beaurocrats who have never stepped out into the real world can be. Absolutely no idea how things work.

Australian businessmen and travellers abroad have been made more aware of the practices and processes of bribing officials of foreign countries with the release this week of the Australian government's Foreign Bribery Information and Awareness Pack

A 'How to Guide'?

Australian businessmen and travellers abroad have been made more aware of the practices and processes of bribing officials of foreign countries with the release this week of the Australian government's Foreign Bribery Information and Awareness Pack

A 'How to Guide'?

Exactly! Should make the "officials of foreign countries" very happy.

It is stupidity like this that makes me wonder about the intelligence of our government.

Without "consulting fees" it is impossible to do business in a lot of the world.

I wonder how many million this information pack cost us taxpayers.

Maybe i should get a copy, and pull it out next time i am approached by BIB.

I could tell them i would love to make a donation, but my government will not allow it.

Then i could call the Embassy to come get me out of the pokey...

linky

Having looked at a small section of the pack, i am please to eport the following to all fellow Australians.

Bribes are not permitted...

They are not tax deductable....

However, we are allowed to make Facilitation Payments.

What is a facilitation payment?

A facilitation payment is a payment to a foreign public official for the sole or dominant purpose of expediting or securing the performance of a routine government action of a minor nature.

A facilitation payment is not regarded as a bribe and may be tax deductible.

Examples of routine government actions of a minor nature include the following:

• granting a permit, licence or other official document that qualifies a person to do business in a foreign country or in a part of a foreign country

• processing government papers such as a visa or work permit

• providing police protection or mail collection or delivery

• scheduling inspections associated with contract performance or related to the transit of goods

• providing telecommunications services, power or water

• loading and unloading cargo, and / or

• protecting perishable products, or commodities, from deterioration.

The above, and any action of a similar nature, must not involve a decision (or involve encouraging a decision) about whether to award new business, continue existing business with a particular person or the terms of new or existing business.

For the technical minded the above is derived from ITAA 97

26-52 http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/con...240/s26.52.html

26-53 http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/con...240/s26.53.html

I am not sure if the tax angle is all you have to worry about......

Bribes are not permitted...

They are not tax deductable....

However, we are allowed to make Facilitation Payments.

What is a facilitation payment?

A facilitation payment is a payment to a foreign public official for the sole or dominant purpose of expediting or securing the performance of a routine government action of a minor nature.

A facilitation payment is not regarded as a bribe and may be tax deductible.

Examples of routine government actions of a minor nature include the following:

• granting a permit, licence or other official document that qualifies a person to do business in a foreign country or in a part of a foreign country

• processing government papers such as a visa or work permit

• providing police protection or mail collection or delivery

• scheduling inspections associated with contract performance or related to the transit of goods

• providing telecommunications services, power or water

• loading and unloading cargo, and / or

• protecting perishable products, or commodities, from deterioration.

Sounds like a bribe to me.

Having looked at a small section of the pack, i am please to eport the following to all fellow Australians.

Bribes are not permitted...

They are not tax deductable....

However, we are allowed to make Facilitation Payments.

What is a facilitation payment?

A facilitation payment is a payment to a foreign public official for the sole or dominant purpose of expediting or securing the performance of a routine government action of a minor nature.

A facilitation payment is not regarded as a bribe and may be tax deductible.

Examples of routine government actions of a minor nature include the following:

• granting a permit, licence or other official document that qualifies a person to do business in a foreign country or in a part of a foreign country

• processing government papers such as a visa or work permit

• providing police protection or mail collection or delivery

• scheduling inspections associated with contract performance or related to the transit of goods

• providing telecommunications services, power or water

• loading and unloading cargo, and / or

• protecting perishable products, or commodities, from deterioration.

The above, and any action of a similar nature, must not involve a decision (or involve encouraging a decision) about whether to award new business, continue existing business with a particular person or the terms of new or existing business.

Does that also legalise the sealed facillitation envelopes recieved by Some Govt and council officials here in Queensland to help push through planning permission for your illegal pool or extension Nignoy

They redefine what bribes mean and ban the practise of bribes - but keeping in the 'service fees'.

Ok...so is this re-definition of the term of non-national...service fees only or have they just allowed you to bribe give a service fee on a local level [in australia] too?