Mr. Jim O'Keeffe:

I am very strongly of the view that we should look at best practice abroad but one should sift what one finds. I am not sure that the US is a shining beacon of ethics but others may have a different view. The responsibility for regulating ethical conduct is divided among a number of organisations at federal and state level. The US Office of Government Ethics does have a lot of the functions of SIPO but cannot investigate complaints. Australia was mentioned. My experience with regard to Australia is out of date, having been gained years ago. However, I visited the offices of the Independent Commission Against Corruption in New South Wales and I was not that impressed. There is no central agency and there is a different body in Queensland.