| Circular Number | 2018-02 |
| Issue date: | 27 August 2018 |
| Superseded by: | Circular 2024-31 : Update to conflict of interest resource suite 2024. Issued 31 May 2024. |
| Application: | All Victorian public sector bodies |
| Resources: | Conflict of interest guidance. |
| Enquiries: | Integrity and Oversight branch Victorian Public Sector Commission 03 9922 8600 [email protected] |
The updates to the Model Policy include:
Departments and public sector bodies should now review and revise their policies and procedures on identifying, reporting and managing conflicts of interest to reflect the updates to Model Policy.
When updating policies and procedures, departments and public sector bodies should take into account the potential impacts on employees, including avoiding discrimination and breaches of privacy.
The Model Policy requires employees to declare consensual personal relationships where a direct hierarchical relationship exists. This declaration can be made to either the employee’s manager, a designated disclosure officer (e.g. human resources officer) or a designated management representative. Departments should now ensure such processes are in place.
Departments should also establish arrangements that can be put in place to manage the conflict of interest, following disclosure. These arrangements may include temporary or permanent changes to reporting or supervisory arrangements.
Consensual personal relationships include consensual sexual, intimate and/or romantic relationships between adults of any sex or gender identity. Relationships of this kind may be on a casual, periodic or regular basis and may or may not constitute a primary relationship. A familial relationship of spouse or de facto partner also constitutes a consensual personal relationship.
Employees are required to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the public sector values and employment principles set out in the Public Administration Act 2004. These values and principles are further defined through the Code of Conduct for Victorian Public Sector Employees and the Code of Conduct for Victorian public sector employees of special bodies and Standards issued by the Victorian Public Sector Commissioner.
This Circular applies to Victorian Public Sector employers.
The VSB has agreed that compliance with the policy changes is required for public service departments.
Public sector entities in the Victorian Public Sector should aim for workplace policies that provide consistency across the sector. Public sector entities are encouraged to revise their policy and procedures on identifying, reporting and managing conflicts of interest, ensuring these are informed by the Model Policy and supporting guidance.
The Model Conflict of Interest Policy came into effect 19 July 2016.
The updated Model Policy was published 27 August 2018.