Page 1160 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 6 April 2016
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guide our behaviour. To support the MLAs code of conduct, the Legislative Assembly (Members’ Staff) Code of Conduct for Ministerial Staff and Staff of Other Office-holders Determination 2015 was tabled in early 2016 and recognises the additional obligations associated with working in a minister’s office.
This code further outlines that ministers’ staff should make themselves familiar with and meet their obligations under: the terms of the relevant industrial agreement or employment contract; the continuing resolutions of the Legislative Assembly for the ACT, in particular the members code of conduct in continuing resolution No 5 and the Assembly’s endorsement of the commonwealth Latimer House principles on the three branches of government in continuing resolution No 8A; the Cabinet Handbook; the MLAs code of conduct; and the code of conduct for ministers’ staff.
This code outlines at 2.f) that ministers’ staff must not inappropriately use or disclose information acquired in the course of their employment. Madam Assistant Speaker, this document clearly outlines how ministers’ staff should undertake their roles and leaves no ambiguity about what is expected of them.
I will develop a number of other initiatives, such as the development of an induction course for incoming MLAs and their staff, which will include awareness training on these codes and other pieces of work that further develop our integrity framework.
It is acknowledged that anyone can act inappropriately in the course of their work, and that is why we have numerous documents which outline the behaviour expected of people in particular roles, including as a member of staff in a minister’s office. These initiatives make these expectations clear for all staff and provide the opportunity to identify and rectify issues not aligned to those expectations as soon as possible. Importantly, they also identify the process for dealing with staff in the event that they do not adhere to these respective initiatives. This is why ACT Policing have referred this matter to me.
However, a most important principle is that MLAs and leaders across the ACT government are role models for the values and behaviours outlined in the respective codes, which support the embedding of values such as integrity in the day-to-day work culture exhibited across the government at all times.
Madam Assistant Speaker, I reject the premise of the motion put forward by the Leader of the Opposition. My amendment notes that the ACT Policing evaluation into the alleged handing of confidential information to the CFMEU by the former chief of staff of the former Minister for Police and Emergency Services was completed in March of 2016; that no charges have been laid by police; that ACT Policing has advised that it now considers the matters finalised; that I am currently considering the Chief Police Officer’s recommendations relating to the security and handling of sensitive information, including the utilisation of the services of the Australian government’s security vetting agency and the series of the education and training induction and other courses that I have outlined in my previous comments; and, finally—and I reiterate this point—it would be totally inappropriate for me to disclose sensitive police information or personal information.
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