Louder than words: An APS integrity action plan

Implementation

Culture

Recommendation 1

Appoint the right leaders. Recruit people whose behaviour is consistent with the APS Values.

Recommendation 2

Incentivise good leadership. Appraise performance of Secretaries and SES based on delivery of results and leadership behaviours.

Recommendation 3

Recognise and reward people who lead with integrity.

Recommendation 4

Bolster the capability of the APS to lead with integrity. Focus on ethical decision making and fostering psychological safety.

Recommendation 5

Promote role clarity for the APS. Induct new SES into the cultural stewardship and legal responsibilities of their role.

Systems

Recommendation 6

Make confidential ethics and integrity advice available to APS staff, SES and agency heads.

Recommendation 7

Provide clarity, confidence and capability uplift for public servants working with ministerial offices.

Recommendation 8

Reinforce a culture of legality across the APS. Strengthen the independence of government lawyers.

Recommendation 9

Reinforce the importance of good record keeping for integrity and support its practice across the APS.

Recommendation 10

Bolster the specialist skills of procurement and contract management officers, and lift the contracting skills of all APS staff.

Accountability

Recommendation 11

Build a strategic approach to integrity. Integrate the knowledge of oversight agencies to identify risks, create solutions and provide a unified message on integrity across the APS.

Recommendation 12

Upscale institutional integrity (culture and compliance) within agencies.

Recommendation 13

Strengthen the integrity of supplier conduct. Increase visibility across the Commonwealth of supplier engagement and performance.

Recommendation 14

Address risks associated with the ‘revolving door’ and other conflicts of interest.

Recommendation 15

Measure and report on integrity data across the APS to track progress and identify opportunities for improvement. Build APS skills in collecting and interpreting integrity data.