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Last updated: 31 July 2008
APS Values and Code of Conduct in practice
The aim of this publication is to assist APS employees to understand the practical application of the APS Values and Code of Conduct in both common and unusual circumstances. Along with the Commission's Good Practice Guide, Embedding the APS Values, it is also intended to assist Agency Heads to establish policies and procedures that promote the APS Values and ensure compliance with the Code.
The electronic version of APS Values and Code of Conduct in Practice has been updated to include advice on the official and unofficial use of blogs by APS employee
Useful references
- Australian Public Service Values
- Australian Public Service Code of Conduct
Chapter 1: The APS—Defined by Values
- Key relationships and behaviours
- The APS Values and Relationships
- The APS as an institution
- Balancing the Values
- Coverage
Section 1: Relationships with the Government and the Parliament
Chapter 2: Working with the Government and the Parliament
- Relevant Values and elements of the Code of Conduct
- Apolitical, impartial and professional
- Responsive
- Accountable
- Complying with the law
- Ensuring an effective relationship
- Working with Ministers' offices
- APS employees working as Ministerial advisers
- Departmental liaison officers
- Caretaker arrangements in the election period
Chapter 3: Managing official information
- Relevant elements of the Values, Code of Conduct and Regulations
- Disclosing information
- Public access to official information
- Protecting official information
- Reporting and protection against liability
- Making public comment
- Providing information to Parliamentary Committees of Inquiry and Royal Commissions in a private capacity
- Disclosure of information by former APS employees
- Recordkeeping
Chapter 4: Managing personal information
- Relevant elements of the Values, Code of Conduct and Regulations
- Privacy
- Freedom of information
- Other laws
Chapter 5: Involvement in public information and awareness initiatives
- Relevant Values and elements of the Code of Conduct
- The broad legislative and policy basis
- What does it mean in practice?
- Explaining Government policies and programmes
- Public information promotion
Section 2: Relationship with the public
Chapter 6: Working with the public
- Relevant Values and elements of the Code of Conduct
- Fair decision making
- Acting according to the law
- Properly exercising powers
- Establishing the facts
- Sensitive use of intrusive powers
- Procedural fairness
- Explaining the reasons for decisions
- Providing good service
- Standards of dress
- Providing information or advice
Chapter 7: Working with the private sector and other stakeholders
- Relevant Values and elements of the Code of Conduct
- Procurement
- Competitive tendering and contracting
- The Values and Code and private sector providers
- Partnerships and Alliances
- Corporate sponsorship
- Commercial-in-confidence information
- Stakeholders
- Relevant Values and elements of the Code of Conduct
- The Lobbying Code of Conduct
- Application of the Code to the APS
- Post separation employment as a lobbyist
Section 3: Relationships in the workplace
Chapter 9: Working with APS colleagues
- Relevant Values and elements of the Code of Conduct
- Merit principle
- Workplace diversity
- Review of actions
- Discrimination and harassment
- Health and safety
- Counselling Services
Section 4: Personal behaviour
Chapter 10: Using Commonwealth resources
- Relevant Values and elements of the Code of Conduct
- Property
- Motor vehicles
- Frequent flyer points
- Equipment and consumable resources (including email and Internet)
- Monitoring and surveillance
- Preventing, investigating and prosecuting fraud
Chapter 11: Conflict of interest
- Relevant Values and elements of the Code of Conduct
- Avoiding and managing conflict of interest
- Bowen Report principles
- Declarations of interests
- Conflicts with financial interests
- Conflicts with personal interests
- Using information or position
- Boards and committees
Chapter 12: Gifts and benefits
- Relevant Values and elements of the Code of Conduct
- Gifts and benefits
- Accepting fees
- Hospitality
- Sponsored travel
- Entertainment
- Bribery and related offences
Chapter 13: Outside employment
- Relevant elements of the Code of Conduct
- Directorships
- Use of paid and unpaid leave
- Unpaid voluntary work
Chapter 14: Post-separation employment
- Relevant Values and elements of the Code of Conduct
- Legal restrictions
- Arrangements before separation
- Post-separation arrangements
- Post separation employment as a professional lobbyist
- Strategies to deal with conflict of interest in market testing and outsourcing
Chapter 15: APS employees as citizens
- Relevant Values and elements of the Code of Conduct
- Participating in political activities
- Political campaigning and fund raising
- Standing for Parliament
- Standing for election for TSRA
- Participating in local government activities
- Participating in union activities
- Official and unofficial use of blogs
- Relevant elements of the Code of Conduct
- Respect for the law of other countries
- Cultural sensitivity
- Accepting gifts
- Use of diplomatic and consular status
- Personal behaviour
- Reporting inappropriate behaviour
- Behaviour of household members
- Relevant Values and elements of the Code of Conduct
- Public Service Act provisions
- Avenues for whistleblowing
- Protection of whistleblowers
- Unauthorised disclosures
- Confidential and anonymous disclosures
- Defamation
- Frivolous or vexatious allegations
- The Commonwealth Ombudsman
- Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security
