Caretaker conventions

On Saturday morning the Prime Minister announced her intention to hold an election on August 21 and the Governor-General dissolved the House of Representatives on the evening of Monday 19 July.

The current Gillard Government now assumes a ‘caretaker’ role and a number of important constraints or conventions come into operation.

Guidance material relating to the roles and responsibilities of public servants during caretaker periods is available:

• Guidance on Caretaker Conventions, available on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet website http://www.pmc.gov.au/guidelines/docs/caretaker_conventions.rtf
• APS Values and Code of Conduct in Practice - A Guide to Official Conduct for APS employees and Agency Heads, section 4 ‘Personal Behaviour’, http://www.apsc.gov.au/values/conductguidelines.htm  includes guidance on issues such as:
  • participating in political activities
  • political campaigning and fund raising
  • standing for Parliament
• Charter of Budget Honesty outlines arrangements under which the Secretaries to the Treasury and of the Department of Finance and Administration may be requested to cost Government and Opposition election commitments http://www.finance.gov.au/publications/charter-of-budget-honesty/index.html
• Guidelines for Ministerial and Departmental Websites   http://webpublishing.agimo.gov.au/Guidelines_for_Ministerial_and_Departmental_Websites   It is important that departments consider carefully the content of their websites and those they maintain on behalf of their ministers.
• Agreement making protocols – http://www.apsc.gov.au/circulars/wr20104.htm

Other relevant information:

Re-engagement of an unsuccessful election candidate  http://www.apsc.gov.au/employmentpolicy/reengagecandidate.htm

Special event - Caretaker conventions

A practical guide to your responsibilities during the caretaker period.

This Special event provides guidance on the established practices associated with caretaker period as well as the opportunity to ask questions of our experts.

The Session will include presentations from Wendy Southern, A/g First Assistant Secretary from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet speaking about Caretaker Conventions and Mr Paul Dworjanyn from the Department of Finance and Administration speaking about Charter of Budget Honesty.

The presentations will be followed by a Q & A session where you will have the opportunity to ask questions.

Registration

You can either download a program flyer and registration form or register online