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Last updated: 18 June 1999
Circular 1999/6: Agreement making arrangements - Frequent flyer points
Please note: This document is for reference purposes only and is no longer considered by the APS Commission to be current. It may contain good practice advice and/or advice on the transitional arrangements between the 1922 and 1999 Public Service Acts.
This circular has been prepared in conjunction with Advice 1999/8 Policy Parameters for Agreement Making in the APS (May 1999), issued by the Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business on 17 May 1999. The purpose of this circular is to restate the Government1s policy on the use of frequent flyer points specifically in relation to agreement making arrangements in the Australian Public Service (APS).
All APS staff and Agency Heads are bound by the Code of Conduct contained in Public Service Regulation 7. With regard to the use of frequent flyer points, relevant sections of the Code of Conduct require staff:
- to use Commonwealth resources in a proper manner;
- not to make improper use of their duties, status, power or authority in order to gain, or seek to gain, a benefit or advantage for themselves or for any other person; and
- to take reasonable steps to avoid any conflict of interest (real or apparent) in connection with APS employment.
The Guidelines on Official Conduct of Commonwealth Public Servants give further advice on these issues.
The use of frequent flyer points continues to be an issue that raises some ethical questions. There are two principles operating:
- the Commonwealth may benefit from the use of the points; indeed, where they can be legitimately used to bring savings to departmental travel budgets, their use is encouraged; and
- individuals must not gain personal benefit from the use of points accumulated from travel undertaken for official purposes.
The Prime Minister endorsed these principles as Government policy on 23 May 1997. It is therefore not appropriate for agencies to conclude agreements, either Workplace Agreements or Certified Agreements, or to condone practices, which compromise these standards.
Any queries regarding this matter should be directed to the PSMPC's Hotline on phone 02 6202 3859 or email employmentadvice@apsc.gov.au.
Jenny Harrison
Team Leader
Values, Conduct and Diversity Team
May 1999
