Principles

Public interest

All employees must place public interest above their private interest when carrying out official duties.

Employees have a duty to serve the government of the day, through its Ministers, and by:

• acting apolitically and providing frank and fearless advice to government
• complying with legislation and government and departmental policies
• performing their roles fairly and reasonably and adhering to the principles of natural justice
• applying the public sector values (Respect, Accountability, Integrity, Impartiality, Responsiveness, Leadership and Human Rights) set out at section 7 of the Public Administration Act 2004
• adhering to the Code of Conduct for Victorian Public Sector Employees
• not accepting gifts, benefits or hospitality that could raise a perception of, or actual, bias or preferential treatment
• not accepting offers from current or prospective suppliers
• not accepting offers from those about whom they are likely to make business decisions
• creating a culture of "thanks is enough' so as to discourage the acceptance of gifts, benefits or hospitality even if they are permitted under this policy.

Accountability

All employees are accountable for:

• not engaging in the soliciting of gifts, benefits and hospitality for themselves or others
• declaring all non-token offers of gifts, benefits and hospitality
• declining all non-token offers of gifts, benefits and hospitality, or where an exception applies under this policy, seeking pre-approval to accept the offer
• the responsible provision of gifts, benefits and hospitality.

Employees with direct reports are accountable for:

• overseeing management of their direct reports’ acceptance or refusal of non-token gifts, benefits and hospitality
• modelling good practice and promoting awareness of gifts, benefits and hospitality policies and processes.

Head of Organisation accountability:

• As an administrative office head, the Chief Parliamentary Counsel must fulfill their obligations under the minimum accountabilities.

Risk-based approach

OCPC, through its policies, processes and DPC's audit and risk management committee, will ensure gifts, benefits and hospitality risks are appropriately assessed and managed.

Individuals with direct reports will ensure they are aware of the risks inherent in their team’s work and functions and monitor the risks to which their direct reports are exposed.