The Australian government agencies responsible for investigating and prosecuting foreign bribery have released joint best practice guidelines that indicate how they will approach self-reporting by companies voluntarily seeking to disclose suspected foreign bribery and related offences.

The guidelines provide greater clarity on the expectations of the Australian Federal Police and the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions in a range of areas, and should assist company management and external advisers in guiding boardrooms through the complex challenges that arise when managing allegations of foreign bribery.