AUSTRALIA has been called on to help create an international anti-corruption body for authorities to track down tax evaders, money launderers, sporting match fixers and those funnelling funds for terrorism. 
The Sunday Mail has learned other nations, including the UK, specifically asked for Australian law enforcement to help create the unprecedented body, privately citing the country as being the least corrupt in the world and capable of forming the foundations of the new global anti-corruption fighting group.
The body, to be announced in London this week at an anti-corruption summit to be chaired by British Prime Minister David Cameron, will sign up at least 40 countries to the initiative but also major sporting bodies including FIFA, international athletic and Olympic groups and cycling institutions.
The move comes in the wake of scandals in sport such as systemic performance enhancing drug doping programs, entrenched match fixing and revelations like the Panama Papers, the 11.5 million documents leaked last month that revealed widespread tax avoidance by hundreds of companies and also world leaders.
The Federal Government was approached by Number 10 to not just "embed" a senior AFP officer, currently seconded to the UK's National Crime Agency, in the running of the body but also help set the new centre up.
Justice Minister Michael Keenan is to be in London for the announcement, which is seen as an honour for Australia. "The Australian Government takes the fight against corruption seriously, however our agencies face ongoing challenges in detecting, investigating and prosecuting serious corporate crime," he said yesterday.
"We have a robust approach to dealing with corruption, under which dedicated agencies have specialised roles and responsibilities for detecting, deterring and responding to such criminal activity. Our agencies are pursuing corruption here and beyond our borders to protect our national interest and the interest of every Australian." The body won't have powers of arrest but will be the liaison between governments and their international law enforcement.The US is to be represented at the summit by Secretary of State John Kerry.