Australia has been listed as the sixth among 28 big economies that bribes public officials on overseas business meets, according to a survey by the Transparency International titled 2011 Bribe Payers Index (BPI).

The survey, participated in by 3,000 business executives from developed and developing nations, ranked 28 leading international and regional exporting countries by the likelihood of their firms to bribe abroad. Business executives were asked how often firms which they have a business relationship from a given country engage in bribery.

Australian companies tied with Canada's firms on the number six spot. Companies from Russia and China, who invested US $120 billion overseas in 2010, are ranked as most likely to pay bribes abroad, while the reverse was seen for companies from the Netherlands and Switzerland.

The Bribe Payers Index scores are anchored to the 0-10 parameters of the scale. A score of 0 corresponds with the perceptions of business people around the world that companies from that country always pay bribes when doing business abroad.

RANK COUNTRY BRIBE PLAYERS INDEX

1 Netherlands 8.8

1 Switzerland 8.8

3 Belgium 8.7

4 Germany 8.6

4 Japan 8.6

6 Australia 8.5

6 Canada 8.5

8 Singapore 8.3

8 UK 8.3

10 USA 8.1

11 France 8.0

11 Spain 8.0

13 South Korea 7.9

14 Brazil 7.7

15 Hong Kong 7.6

15 Italy 7.6

15 Malaysia 7.6

15 South Africa 7.6

19 Taiwan 7.5

19 India 7.5

19 Turkey 7.5

22 Saudi Arabia 7.4

23 Argentina 7.3

23 UAE 7.3

25 Indonesia 7.1

26 Mexico 7.0

27 China 6.5

28 Russia 6.1

Average 7.8

Addressing foreign bribery is a priority issue for the international community as the group of 20 leading economies, G20, launched an anti-corruption action plan a year ago. International business leaders reported widespread practice of companies paying bribes to public officials to win public tenders, avoid regulation, speed up government processes and influence policy, among others.

The 28 countries and territories included in the 2011 Bribe Payers Index (BPI) account for 78 per cent of the total outflow of goods, services and investment worldwide. It was last published in 2008.