Australia ranks very well in the Index for Public Integrity. It has low opportunities for corruption due to low administrative burden and high constraints in the form of independent courts, e-citizens and strong freedom of the press. Its performance has been achieved through broad reforms, including good quality education, meritocracy and gradual administrative reform which has resulted in accountable and effective government. In light of Australia’s beginnings as a penal colony, its long-term, successful historical transformation yields many worthy lessons for developing countries. The last ten years show however some backsliding in Courts’ performance and e-government. Significant concern persists regarding the undue foreign influence, as well as influence of extractive industries, and more transparency is needed about mining concessions and officials’ conflicts of interest and assets. Owing to the high freedom of the press and level of e-citizenship guaranteeing effective civil society oversight the forecast remains stationary.

Austria has regressed in the Index for Public Integrity and is underperforming in transparency compared to its income and regional peers. Although in the past the country managed to control corruption in spite of low transparency, the limits of past arrangements seem to have been reached. In recent years, a new generation of politicians broke integrity norms, but they were eventually brought to account for their actions. How the judiciary decides to finally deal with the most high-profile cases of corruption will be decisive to Austria’s future political integrity. To prevent further abuse of office like that seen in recent scandals, Austria needs more fiscal transparency, access to information and transparent monitoring of assets and interests of public officials. It also needs more transparency in both traditional and emerging media. The forecast is stationary.