Ethical practice
People who work for the NSW Government must always work ethically and act in good faith in the public interest. This is their public duty.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption has developed these principles to help Government employees make better decisions and resolve ethical dilemmas that they face at work:
Serving public above private interests
Government employees must make decisions and take actions which best serve the public interests. When making decisions, employees should not consider their private or personal interests.
Integrity
Government employees should ensure that any decision made, or action taken, has these qualities:
Openness
giving reasons for decisions
revealing all avenues available to the client or business
when authorised, offering all information
communicating clearly
honesty
obeying the law
following the letter and spirit of policies and procedures
observing codes of conduct
fully disclosing any possible conflicts between the public interest and your personal interest
Accountability
recording reasons for decisions
submitting to scrutiny
keeping proper accessible records
establishing audit trails
Objectivity
fairness to all
impartial assessment
merit selection in recruitment and in purchase and sale of government resources
considering only relevant matters
Courage
giving advice fearlessly and frankly where required
doing the right thing even in the face of adversity
reporting and dealing with suspected wrongdoing
acting in the public interest above loyalty to colleagues or supervisors
Leadership
Demonstrating, by your own ethical behaviour, the value of these principles in serving the public interest. Promoting public duty to colleagues and others in an agency and outside.
For more information contact:
Independent Commission Against Corruption
Phone: 02 9318 5999
- http://www.icac.nsw.gov.au/
