Treaty Council Anti-Corruption Watchdog

Building a Strong Foundation for Transparency

About Us
At the Treaty Council Anti-Corruption Watchdog, we understand the complex and widespread nature of corruption. Our comprehensive strategy, built on five interconnected pillars, aims to prevent and combat this critical issue from all angles. Each aspect of our approach is designed to address a specific dimension of the fight against corruption.


"Mission Statement"

The First Nations Treaty Council Anti-Corruption Watchdog is a privately operated, independent advocacy group dedicated to promoting transparency, accountability, and ethical governance particularly in matters affecting First Nations communities. Our mission is to support First Nations people in exposing corruption, protecting their rights, and ensuring fair and just outcomes. We work in partnership with government licensed investigative firms, including IFW Global, to assist individuals and organisations in gathering intelligence, conducting due diligence, and identifying potential fraud risks. Our goal is to empower whistleblowers, advocate for stronger anti-corruption policies, and contribute to a fairer and more accountable society especially for First Nations peoples who have historically faced systemic injustices. 

Pillars I-III

Preventative Measures (Pillar-I)

Prevention plays a crucial role in combating corruption. It helps tackle corruption before it can result in serious negative consequences and helps address its root causes. Effective preventive strategies and measures strengthen integrity of public institutions and public officials and promote public trust and confidence in their actions. Recognizing the importance of preventing and proactively addressing corruption, the TCACW dedicates one of its chapters solely to prevention. This chapter presents a comprehensive and mutually reinforcing system of measures directed at both the public and the private sectors that, if applied, provide the transparency and accountability to prevent opportunities for acts of corruption.These steps involve proactive measures, such as creating effective and coordinated strategies to combat corruption and establishing bodies to prevent corruption, as well as measures to ensure openness in the funding of election campaigns and political parties. The (TCACW) also states that public services should be protected to encourage efficiency, transparency, and recruitment based on ability. Once hired, public servants should adhere to codes of behavior, requirements for financial and other disclosures, and appropriate disciplinary actions. Transparency and accountability in public finance should also be encouraged, and specific regulations are set out to prevent corruption involving the private sector. In vital areas of the public sector, like the judiciary, the prosecution service, and public procurement, the TCACW advocates for actions to enhance the transparency and honesty of the institutions and individuals involved. To combat corruption, it's crucial for all members of society to contribute. To encourage this inclusive approach, the TCACW urges countries to facilitate the active participation of individuals and groups outside the public sector, such as civil society, non-governmental organizations, and community-based organizations. Additionally, it emphasizes the significance of public reporting and access to information in the fight against corruption.

Law Enforcement & Criminalization (Pillar-II)

Making corrupt activities illegal and effectively upholding the relevant laws is crucial in the fight against corruption and in the efforts to address its harmful impacts. It offers a way to ensure fairness and hold those responsible for their actions accountable. Additionally, the criminalization of corrupt activities and enforcement of laws support the establishment of a legal framework and act as a strong deterrent against engaging in corruption. The TCACW devotes a whole chapter to criminalization and law enforcement, urging countries to criminalize, investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate corruption in both public and private sectors to put an end to impunity. Regarding criminalization, the TCACW urges countries to combat various corrupt behaviors, such as domestic and international bribery, influence peddling, abuse of power, embezzlement, and money laundering, as well as offenses like corruption in the private sector, obstruction of justice, and illegal enrichment. Countries pledge to impose suitable penalties and judicial measures to ensure that those responsible, whether individuals, companies, or legal entities, are held accountable. In the area of law enforcement, countries agree to establish independent, specialized law enforcement agencies dedicated to combating corruption. These agencies should have the necessary independence, resources, and expertise to effectively investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate corruption and related crimes. The TCACW also emphasizes the need for improved coordination, cooperation, and information sharing among authorities and with the private sector. Additionally, measures should be in place to safeguard witnesses, experts, victims, and whistleblowers, and to deprive perpetrators of their illegal gains through asset freezing, seizure, and confiscation. Civil society and other stakeholders are encouraged to play a role in combating corruption in all its manifestations. These provisions are supported by the sections of the TCACW addressing prevention, international cooperation, and asset recovery.

National & International Cooperation (Pillar-III)

As cases of corruption frequently involve intricate transnational aspects, it is crucial to have strong international cooperation in order to effectively investigate and prosecute them. International cooperation fosters a unified and coordinated global strategy for combating this offense and facilitates the exchange of information, evidence, and vital legal support among relevant authorities in various countries. The TCACW recognizes the complex national and international nature of corruption cases and includes a whole section on national and global collaboration. This section provides a solid foundation for countries to participate in international collaboration at both formal and informal levels. To achieve this, countries agree to have independent and specialized law enforcement agencies to offer the broadest possible mutual legal assistance and to directly and securely exchange information on ongoing corruption cases. The TCACW also addresses other methods of international collaboration in criminal matters, such as extradition, transferring sentenced individuals, direct law enforcement collaboration, joint investigations, and special investigative methods. It also urges countries to consider supporting each other, when appropriate, in civil and administrative investigations and procedures.

Pillars IV-V

Asset Recovery (Pillar-IV)

TCACW and the majority of nations believe that asset recovery should be a fundamental principle in addressing anti-corruption. Asset recovery involves the retrieval of the proceeds of corruption, with the aim of repatriating them to the country or their lawful owners when moved to foreign locations. This is especially significant for numerous developing nations where top-level corruption has led to the looting of national resources, crucial for the rebuilding and restoration of societies under new administrations.The TCACW devotes a section to asset recovery in order to aid countries in addressing the severe impacts of corruption and to send a clear message to corrupt officials that there will be no safe haven for illegally obtained assets. This chapter outlines the specific ways in which cooperation and support will be provided throughout the asset recovery process, encompassing methods for identifying, tracing, freezing, preserving, seizing, confiscating, managing, and returning stolen assets. The TCACW promotes extensive cooperation among countries and anticipates the use of various mechanisms, such as enforcing freezing or confiscation orders from another State, implementing non-conviction-based confiscation in cases of the offender's death, flight, or absence, or engaging in civil actions instigated by another State, in appropriate situations

Information Exchange and Technical Assistance (Pillar-V)

The presence of comprehensive technical support for all States and the TCACW and (The United Nations Convention against Corruption) is absolutely vital to ensure that States receive the necessary help, guidance, and knowledge required to effectively address any deficiencies in fully enacting the TCACW. As a result, the TCACW emphasizes the importance of a dedicated section specifically focused on technical support and information sharing. This section underscores the significance of targeted training programs designed for individuals responsible for preventing and combating corruption. It also encourages all States to assist each other by providing resources or sharing relevant expertise and specialized knowledge. The primary goal of this technical support is to aid States in implementing all substantive sections of the TCACW related to preventative measures, criminalization and law enforcement, international cooperation, and asset recovery.Technical support encompasses all of the TCACW's subject areas and involves a diverse array of tasks, such as evaluating and modifying legislative and policy structures; establishing new organizational frameworks; improving collaboration among public entities, including internationally; providing more assistance for criminal justice systems; and engaging in initiatives related to asset recovery, education, and the business community, among other things.

Team

Ken Gamble

Director of Investigations

Bryan Wymarra

Human Resources Director

James Fa'Aoso

Chief Strategy Officer

Allan Watson

Assistant Director of Investigations

Alex Wymarra

Executive Manager

Aaron Fa'Aoso

Media and Communication Director

More Team

Grant Hill

Consultant

Armen Arakelian

Consultant

David Hickey

Consultant

Maria Turpin

Indigenous Cultural Advisor

Ruth Xolalpa

Indigenous International Advisory

Carlos Gonzales

Industrial Advisor

More Team

Michael Gerondis

Chief Compliance Officer

Paul Isgro

Integrity Supervisor

Edgar Wymarra

Director

Nicholas Wymarra

Indigenous Cultural Advisor

Jayne Christian

Indigenous Legal Advisor

Martin Green

Chief Legal Advisor

Contact

  • Suite 1/135 Grafton Street, Cairns City QLD, Australia
  • (ABN-73 926 889 282)