Anonymous text service for PNG corruption proves effective

Transcript

A service in Papua New Guinea that allows finance ministry staff to anonymously report cases of corruption via text message is proving effective.

The 'phones against corruption' programme was introduced in 2014 as a way for staff, both in Port Moresby and in remote areas where cellphone is the only means of communication, to report cases for investigation.

Amanda Watson, a visiting fellow at the Australian National University, has been researching the programme and says it has so far been very successful, with several convictions already made.

But Dr Watson told Jamie Tahana that not many people are aware of the programme, and resourcing is an issue.

AMANDA WATSON: The department of finance staff members, there's 1200 of them including in Port Moresby as well as provincial treasuries and district treasuries around the country. They are able to report those cases of corruption and the reports when they come in are handled by the department of finances internal audit and compliance division.

JAMIE TAHANA: And so what is the thinking behind this?

AW: Well there are people working in Papua New Guinea in district treasuries in some quite rural and remote places and often in district treasuries people might not have access to email, some district treasuries don't have electricity they might be a very long way from a post office. so it can be difficult for these people to communicate through various means. But also there might not be opportunity for private communications. For instance where would someone go to to have a private conversation . Certainly if they are wanting to us a private phone then obviously it would be difficult for them to talk about sensitive information. So the advantage of the text messaging is that it is private and the department of finance staff are able to report those cases. We are feeling that there is at least less risk to them personally.

 JT: Two the country is well covered by mobile isn't it I think it is probably one of the most effective communications in Papua New Guinea?

AW: Yes the Digicel company they say that they cover 94 percent of the population now. Much of the country is covered by a 2G network at least but certainly they can use text messaging and they can receive phone calls.

JT: How has it gone? Has it proved effective so far?

AW:   Yes so the "phones against corruption" project got underway in mid and since then two officials on fund mismanagement charges in relation to around five million Kina worth of misappropriated funds. There are five more officials whose cases are waiting on court decisions. And there are many more cases still being investigated.

JT: So the enforcement is being taken seriously because we see with some other cases in PNG that enforcement can be a problem.

AW: So one of the challenges is the resources of the internal audit and compliance division. So where I come in is I was able to do some user experience research on the signs against corruption project and one of the things we did with the focus group was with the staff members of the internal audit and compliance divisions. And they talked about the resources they said that the service is working. It is effective at gathering information but they need more resources to be able to investigate cases. As one of them said it will out pressure on the resources that we had in terms of man power and finance to immediately undertake some of these serious issues.