A former Queensland crown prosecutor has denied advising on how to funnel corrupt money from Papua New Guinea into Australia.
In secretly-filmed video, broadcast by SBS's Dateline program on Tuesday, PNG-based Greg Sheppard says the only way to bribe foreign politicians is to pay in small amounts, disguised as commercial transactions.
"Look, if you were to pay seven figures to anybody, the world would fall in on top of you. Small dribs and drabs is the only way to go," he was filmed saying to an investigator from NGO, Global Witness, posing as a fund manager.
The owner of Young and WIlliams Lawyers told PNG news programme, TVWAN News on Wednesday the comments were inaccurately portrayed.
"The general tenor of my conversation, as depicted in that footage, is to unequivocally recommend that he do not engage in the suggestion that he had articulated," he said.
"I told him to have nothing to do with such a thing."
When asked about the allegations today, Treasurer Joe Hockey replied that he "certainly" hoped Australia wasn't a safe haven for corrupt funds from Papua New Guinea.
"In the budget I announced a further $127 million to strengthen the resources for the investigative taskforce into the unlawful flow of money into Australia."
The Australian Federal Police says it is aware of and is currently reviewing the allegations made in the Dateline report.
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