| Circular Number | 2023-27 |
| Issue date: | 5 May 2023 |
| Application: | All Victorian public sector employees |
| Enquiries: | Integrity and Oversight branch Victorian Public Sector Commission 03 9922 8600 [email protected] |
On 19 April 2023, IBAC released a Special Report on Operation Daintree, which identified:
The Government has considered the recommendations and issued an official response.
The report includes a number of findings relating to ministerial advisers and raises issues of concern for the public service, including that:
As public servants we are overwhelmingly motivated to serve our community and advance the interest of Victorians. Victorian public servants work hard every day to be forward-looking, respectful and to deliver the highest quality work.
I want to remind all public servants that we are bound to work at all times in accordance with the seven public sector values and Code of Conduct.
One of these Public Sector Values is responsiveness. As the Public Administration Act 2004 tells us, responsiveness requires frank, impartial and timely advice to the Government. This upholds the Westminster principle of an apolitical public service, which ensures that government has the information it needs to:
The VPSC has produced Informing and advising ministers in the Victorian Public Service (VPS), which provides guidance on how to advise ministers if you’re a VPS secretary, executive or staff member.
The guidance emphasises the need for secretaries, executives and staff to:
If you are unsure or lack confidence in how to balance these responsibilities, I encourage you to seek support from within your organisation.
If you have serious integrity concerns about the behaviour of the public sector, you should consider formal processes for reporting this. For example through the Public Interest Disclosure process.
The Victorian Public Sector Commission is also here to provide advice to executives and staff in complex situations. Please email [email protected].
Guidance on the public sector values can be found on our website.