1 / 14

Integrity Commissioner

The Queensland Integrity Commissioner is celebrating its 10-year anniversary with a focus on decision-makers, personal interests, and levels of disclosure. Learn about the role of the Integrity Commissioner and their advisory functions.

ponton
Download Presentation

Integrity Commissioner

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Queensland Integrity Commissioner is celebrating our 10 year anniversary in 2019 with the theme: ‘Decision-makers, personal interests, and requisite levels of disclosure’

  2. Build performance through culture Integrity CommissionerDr Nikola Stepanov JD, PhD (Melb.) Mediator (NMAS), FDRP, FGIA, MAICD, PRIProfessor (adj.) JCUintegrity.commissioner@integrity.qld.gov.au

  3. Integrity Commissioner • Statutory Office Holder & Officer of Parliament • Reporting relationship: Speaker of House & Parliamentary Economic and Governance Committee • Impartial and independent- allows for frank and fearless advice • Convenor & Chair, Integrity Committee: • Chair of Crime & Corruption Commission, Auditor-General, Ombudsman, Commissioner PSC, Information Commissioner, Electoral Commissioner, Racing Integrity Commissioner, Independent Assessor

  4. Integrity Commissioner • Providing advice to ‘designated persons’ on ethics & integrity issues (5000+ people) including Premier, Ministers, Assistant Ministers, DGs, Boards, Mayors & Councillors • Maintaining the Lobbyist register • Raising public awareness • Standard setting at the request of the Premier

  5. Integrity Commissioner • Non-binding advice on ethics or integrity issues (note: it is not legal advice) • The Commissioner must have regard to relevant legislation, codes and standards. • Legal protections for advisee- from civil liability & as part of any administrative review processes (QCAT, tribunals etc). • Strict secrecy provisions apply (85 penalty points or 1 yr imprisonment) • Commissioner (& staff) cannot be compelled in any proceedings • Advice is in the public interest

  6. Integrity Commissioner Advisory & public awareness functions: • Multi-member decision-making bodies • Approx 300 Qld Govt Boards & Bodies • Huge variety- everything from Cross River Rail Development Authority, Hospital & Health Service Boards, Energy Qld, Qld Building Construction Commission, Library, Rail, Ports, Tourism, Veterinary Surgeons, Grammar Schools, Uni Senates……. • Cabinet, Local Govts, Tribunals, Parliamentary Committees etc • Set practice standards, publish research, conduct workshops, advice on panel composition, advice to Board & to each individual member • As well, advice to relevant Minister about Board members where necessary

  7. Guides for Statutory Boards & Bodiesavailable from: www.integrity.qld.gov.au Range of resources available: - Hypothetical case studies - Research papers - Frameworks - Meeting aids

  8. Build performance through culture Main areas of concern, generally * About 20% of work is with Boards • Conflicts of interest (approx. 60%) • Conflicts of duties, i.e. obligations to two boards (approx. 20%) • Statutory reporting obligations (approx. 15%, whistle-blower, concerns about corrupt conduct in another, ‘weaponised’ reporting, etc) • Acceptance of gifts and hospitality (* 50% Local govts, 25% Ministers & Assistant Ministers)

  9. Are the moral compasses of Boards, broken?

  10. Build performance through culture Are the moral compasses of Boards ‘broken’? • Implies at some point culture was wholesome or ‘unbroken’ • Notion that there may be a ‘bright-light’ approach • Effective decision-making is highly nuanced & multi-facetted with culture a significant factor • Complexifying environment are ‘grey areas’ inc. which interest is paramount, legal meaning of terms: ‘public interest’, ’reasonable’

  11. Build performance through culture • Culture is about promoting and respecting shared values & principles- most visible when you unpack decisions & attitudes • Absent broader evaluation that includes content experts, we may come to rely on a false idea of how we should appear to ‘perform’ and not how we actually perform • ‘Facilitative, inclusive’ Boards can make poor decisions and ‘dysfunctional’ Boards can make very good decisions • Weighting given to opinions is not fit for purpose • Overweigh effects of virtuous characteristics • Often behavior does no provide a true indication of our level of knowledge or expertise, or how we will use either (A, M, I, J, R, C, Cr)

  12. Build performance through culture • Focus on Board as a whole, and individuals, individually. • Anchors • Motivations • Intentions • Justifications • Rewards • Communication & conflict resolution styles

  13. Build performance through culture • Qld Statutory Boards and Bodies • (Different body of knowledge & law) • Clear message & expectations • Primacy of public interest- statutory obligation (no competing interest) • Code of Conduct and Public Sector Ethics Act set strong expectations about behaviours • Deterrents- breach constitutes a civil offence or occasionally a criminal offence- accountability • Availability of integrity advisor at no cost and with confidentiality provisions & legal protections • Resources tailored to circumstances

  14. Developed by the Queensland Integrity Commissioner(07) 3003 2888Integrity.commissioner@integrity.qld.gov.au

More Related