Senator John Faulkner
15/2009
6 May 2009
At today’s launch of a new Ethics Advisory Service, Cabinet Secretary and Special Minister for State, Senator John Faulkner acknowledged that work in the Public Service is increasingly more complex and demands a high level of ethical awareness.
“The Australian Government is committed to maintaining and enhancing the ethical health of the Australian Public Service,” Senator Faulkner said.
“The Ethics Advisory Service will provide a new capability that agencies and their employees can draw on to support ethical decision making.”
The service, to be managed by the Australian Public Service Commission, is available to all Australian Public Service employees, including agency heads and Senior Executive Service staff. The service will also enhance ethical awareness through a series of publications, new learning and development strategies, a web page, and a network of agency ethics contact officers.
The service also has an important strategic role in raising awareness and taking the pulse of the ethical health of the Australian Public Service. Statistical information from telephone calls and emails will be reported annually to the Parliament which will help identify and respond to emerging ethical issues and challenges in the public sector.
The Minister said that the Ethics Advisory Service does not have a problem-solving or counselling role.
“It provides information and advice to help inform ethical decision-making, but the responsibility for the decision and action rests with the agency and the employee”, he said.
The service is one of a range of Government initiatives designed to encourage openness, integrity, and accountability.
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