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IIA-Australia

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The public interest is a concept with various connotations. It could be regarded as a socially derived concept that considers matters in which the community and general public as a whole has a pecuniary interest in which their rights or liabilities / welfare or well-being are affected. It has the implication that a matter resolved in the public interest maximises the benefit for society.

Key Points

1. The public interest is a culturally determined concept and it can be readily determined that regardless of the ethical construct adopted, no standard is universally applicable or acceptable to every group or everyone.
2. The true measure of whether a person or an organisation is acting in the public interest lies in the confidence of those affected, not those making the pronouncements. To argue and be able to hold out that an action or inaction is in the public interest requires consideration of a number of complex factors and imposes a burden of proof.

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