Enhancing ethical culture through ethical decision-making Ethics training

Exploring Ethics What is the right thing to do?

Exploring ethics Objective Public Service Employees demonstrate an understanding of how public service ethics relate to their role

Exploring ethics What are my ethics? What are my ethics based on?

Ethics in the public service Why are ethics important? Why should we act ethically? How important are ethics in the public service?

Government focus on ethics 2009 Integrity & Accountability Review Strong rules Strong culture Strong scrutiny Strong enforcement

Government focus on ethics Strong Rules Including: One Code of Conduct for the Public Service Gifts and Benefits policy Regulate lobbyist industry

Government focus on ethics Strong Culture Including: Ethical leadership Mandatory ethics training Queensland Public Sector Ethics Network

Government focus on ethics Strong Scrutiny Including: Integrity Commissioner role expanded Requirement to publish departmental gifts registers Reform State Procurement Policy

Government focus on ethics Strong Enforcement Including: Crime and Misconduct Commission Public Service Commission Effective public interest disclosure laws

Ethics in practice

Mandatory annual ethics training Promoting the highest standards of integrity and accountability from everyone in public office

Qld Public Service Ethics Integrity & impartiality Promoting the public good Commitment to the system of government Accountability & transparency

Qld Public Service Ethics Integrity & Impartiality because: public office involves a public trust, we seek to promote public confidence in the integrity of the public sector

Integrity & Impartiality public sector entities: a.are committed to the highest ethical standards b.accept and value their duty to provide advice which is objective, independent, apolitical and impartial c.Show respect towards all persons, including employees, clients and the general public d.acknowledge the primacy of the public interest and undertake that any conflict of interest issue will be resolved or appropriately managed in favour of the public interest e.are committed to honest, fair and respectful engagement with the community.

Integrity & Impartiality  Truthfulness  Fairness  Honesty  Not prejudiced  Unbiased  Just

Qld Public Service Ethics Promoting the Public Good because: the public sector is the mechanism through which elected representatives of the people deliver programs and services for the benefit of the people of Qld

Promoting the public good public sector entities: a.accept and value their duty to be responsive to both the requirements of government and to the public interest b.accept and value their duty to engage the community in developing and effecting official public sector priorities, policies and decisions c.accept and value their duty to manage public resources effectively, efficiently and economically d.value and seek to achieve excellence in service delivery, and e.value and seek to achieve enhanced integration of services to better service clients.

Promoting the public good actions that benefit the people of Queensland as a whole

Promoting the public good and our system of government

Qld Public Service Ethics Commitment to the System of Government because: public sector entities have a duty to uphold the system of govt and the laws of the State, Commonwealth and local government

Commitment to the system of government public sector entities: a.accept and value their duty to uphold the system of government and the laws of the State, the Commonwealth and local government; and b.are committed to effecting official public sector priorities, policies and decisions professionally and impartially; and c.accept and value their duty to operate within the framework of Ministerial responsibility to government, the Parliament and the community.

Commitment to the system of government the government (elected by the people) and the laws and institutions (public service and courts)

Qld Public Service Ethics Accountability & Transparency because: public trust in public office requires high standards of public administration

Accountability & Transparency public sector entities: a.are committed to exercising proper diligence, care and attention b.are committed to using public resources in an effective and accountable manner c.are committed to managing information as openly as practicable within the legal framework d.value and seek to achieve high standards of public administration e.value and seek to innovate and continuously improve performance, and f.value and seek to operate within a framework of mutual obligation and shared responsibility between public sector entities and public officials.

Accountability & Transparency to act responsibly so our actions and decisions can be explained being open and candid so our actions and decisions can be easily understood

Exploring ethics How will you demonstrate ethical responsibility at work?

Applying Ethics Public Service Employees are able to: identify ethical dilemmas, risks and breaches at work apply public sector ethics principles to ethical dilemmas respond appropriately to ethical risks and breaches access appropriate sources of advice for dealing with ethical issues identify actions they will commit to in order to uphold public sector ethics in their day to day work

Applying ethics to dilemmas Recognising ethical dilemmas risks and breaches

Applying ethics to dilemmas ask yourself Am I doing the right thing? Test your decision –Apply the ethics principles –Apply the law Get advice

Applying ethics to dilemmas Test your decision: Is it the right thing to do? How would the public view this? How will this impact on those affected? How would you feel if this was done to you? Does this demonstrate ethical leadership?

1. Throughout your decision ask yourself Am I doing the right thing? Record –information –process –reasons –decision Communicate –confidentially –with those involved

2. Preparing the decision filling the GAP in your knowledge Gather and assess information –relevant –Confidentially Apply laws Policy & procedures –service wide –agency specific

3. Developing the decision GOT it sorted… then… Get advice –independent –what you need to hear Options & consequences - what are they? Test your decision –ethics –law

GO ….. and Act on your decision (refer if you need to) after the decision Consider & reflect –on your process & decision –would you change anything if you could do it again? –can agency processes be improved? Tell –others what you have learnt

Responding to ethics risks & breaches Reporting risks and breaches Questioning unethical behaviour

What if the law is wrong? Is the issue how the law has been interpreted, or the law itself? Raise the need for policy change or legislative amendment through your agency’s processes. If there is agreement that changes are needed, seek advice about what should be done with your decision.

What if you don't agree with a direction or decision ? Discuss your concerns with someone you respect. You must comply with all reasonable and lawful work instructions, whether or not you personally agree with a given policy direction. You can refuse directions that are unreasonable or unlawful. Seek advice before taking this step.

What if you think a decision or actions is not in the public interest? Public interest disclosure information provided to an appropriate organisation about certain types of wrongdoing in the public sector It may be helpful to seek advice before making a public interest disclosure

Ethics advice Review the issues and your options with someone independent who you respect who will tell you what you NEED to hear rather than what you want to hear

Ethics advice  Your supervisor or manager  Your agency ethics human resources area, or legal area PSC Ethics Advisory Service Crime and Misconduct Commission:

Applying Ethics How will you demonstrate ethical responsibility at work?