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Media release: Supporting Ministers, Upholding the Values—a good practice guide
The Commissioner
Lynelle Briggs
Lynelle Briggs is the Public Service Commissioner. She has held this position since November 2004.
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Issued 9 March 2006
Supporting Ministers, Upholding the Values
The Public Service Commissioner, Ms Lynelle Briggs, today launched Supporting Ministers, Upholding the Values—a good practice guide for public servants interacting with ministers and their advisers.
“Public servants are neither political advisers nor consultants,” she said in launching the guide. “We have roles and responsibilities, professional standards and legislative employment arrangements that distinguish us from both of these groups. If we do not understand or keep to those standards, then we have nothing to offer government that is not available elsewhere and the public service has no future.”
Referring to the changing of the guard in the public service, she argued that “the simple fact is, we can no longer assume that the standards applying to interactions between politicians and administrators will be inhaled by public servants just when they need to understand and apply them.”
“There are many more ministerial advisers now making more demands. There are also more people on the receiving end of such demands. In 2004-05, 20% of public servants reported having had direct contact with Ministers and/or their advisers in the preceding year.”
Drawing on surveys undertaken for her State of the Service report, Ms Briggs argued that “[i]t is no longer possible to rely on mentoring promising junior staff so that when they arrive at positions of leadership they know how public service standards are meant to work in practice. Junior staff are being contacted by ministerial advisers before they arrive at leadership positions. Individuals can be emailed and telephoned directly. Many public servants don’t know how to respond appropriately. Our research indicates that some don’t even know that there is something that they should know.”
“As Public Service Commissioner, I have taken the view that, even in a devolved environment, APS employees require broad guidance about the principles and the practices that apply in their relationships with Ministers and their advisers.”
Referring to claims of politicisation, Ms Briggs said “the integrity of Government and the integrity of the public service depend on each other. It is a stately dance. The Government leads, but each partner needs to keep a proper distance and watch where they put their feet.”
The guide will be circulated to key personnel in departments and agencies, and in Minister’s offices.
For more information please contact:
Lorna Kunz (02) 6202 3577 (w) lorna.kunz@apsc.gov.au
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