Australia slips in corruption index, ranks as 13th least-corrupt nation

Australia has once again slipped in a global corruption index, suggesting Federal Government measures to crack down on bribery and the diversion of public funds are failing. Snapshot of corruption index: 1. New Zealand2. Denmark3. Finland3. Norway3. Switzerland13. Australia175. Yemen177. Afghanistan178. Syria179. South Sudan180. Somalia In a corruption perceptions study of 180 countries conducted by Transparency International, Australia ranked as the 13th least-corrupt nation, ahead of Hong Kong, while New Zealand won top ranking as the cleanest. But in a disturbing trend, the index showed Australia's corruption score had slipped eight points over the past six years, a trend which was described as a "notable decrease". Australia scored 85 out of 100 in 2012, and 77 out of 100 in 2017.

According to an Australian Public Service Commission survey the number of federal public servants witnessing corruption has doubled in three years. Source: Getty Images