Public Sector Ethics Act 1994 (Qld)

Public Sector Ethics Act 1994

An Act about public sector ethics and conduct

Part 1    Preliminary

1   Short title

This Act may be cited as the Public Sector Ethics Act 1994.

2   Definitions

The dictionary in the schedule defines particular words used in this Act.

3   Act binds all persons

This Act binds all persons, including the State.

Part 2    Ethics principles

4   Declaration of ethics principles

(1)The ethics principles mentioned in subsection (2) are declared to be fundamental to good public administration.

(2)The ethics principles are—

•integrity and impartiality

•promoting the public good

•commitment to the system of government

•accountability and transparency.

Part 3    Ethics values

5   Nature, purpose and application of values

(1)In recognition of the ethics principles, ethics values are to apply to public service agencies, public sector entities and public officials.

(2)The values mentioned in division 2 are the ethics values for public service agencies, public sector entities and public officials.

(3)The ethics values are intended to provide the basis for codes of conduct for public service agencies, public sector entities and public officials and are not of themselves legally enforceable.

6   Integrity and impartiality

In recognition that public office involves a public trust, public service agencies, public sector entities and public officials seek to promote public confidence in the integrity of the public sector and—

(a)are committed to the highest ethical standards; and

(b)accept and value their duty to provide advice which is objective, independent, apolitical and impartial; and

(c)show respect towards all persons, including employees, clients and the general public; and

(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; and

(e)are committed to honest, fair and respectful engagement with the community.

7   Promoting the public good

In recognition that the public sector is the mechanism through which the elected representatives deliver programs and services for the benefit of the people of Queensland, public service agencies, public sector entities and public officials—

(a)accept and value their duty to be responsive to both the requirements of government and to the public interest; and

(b)accept and value their duty to engage the community in developing and effecting official public sector priorities, policies and decisions; and

(c)accept and value their duty to manage public resources effectively, efficiently and economically; and

(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.

8   Commitment to the system of government

(1)In recognition that the public sector has a duty to uphold the system of government and the laws of the State, Commonwealth and local government, public service agencies, public sector entities and public officials—

(a)accept and value their duty to uphold the system of…