Accountability and transparency

1. Accountability and transparency Principle 4

2. Accountability and transparency because public trust in public office requires high standards of public administration

3. to act responsibly so our actions and decisions can be explained being open and candid so our actions and decisions can be easily understood Accountability and transparency

4. Accountability acting responsibly so our actions and decisions can be explained

5. Transparency being open and candid so our actions and decisions can be easily understood

6. Accountability and transparency public sector entities are committed to exercising proper diligence, care and attention are committed to using public resources in an effective and accountable way are committed to managing information as openly as practicable within the legal framework value and seek to achieve high standards of public administration value and seek to innovate and continuously improve performance value and seek to operate within a framework of mutual obligation and shared responsibility between public service agencies, public sector entities and public officials

7. Accountability and transparencyvalue awe exercise proper diligence, care and attention Proper diligence we are consistent and persist to achieve outcomes Care and attention we ensure accuracy and we act with consideration and courtesy

8. we ensure resources are not wasted, abused or used improperly by using them effectively - producing the intended result accountably – responsibly – in a way that can be explained Accountability and transparencyvalue bwe use public resources effectively and accountably

9. government information is collected/ generated using public money to serve the public therefore information about government priorities, policies, actions and decisions should generally be available to the public Accountability and transparencyvalue cwe manage information openly

10. we actively release information except where release would not be in the public interest the information is personal information Accountability and transparencyvalue cwe manage information openly within the legal framework

11. is available to the people it is about, unless its release could cause harm will not be released to other people without the permission of the people it is about, or when release is authorised by law Accountability and transparencyvalue cpersonal information

12. we give objective, independent, apolitical advice we ensure our actions and decisions are based on evidence and are consistent with policy and procedures we exercise proper diligence, care and attention we ensure resources are not wasted, abused or used improperly Accountability and transparencyvalue dwe achieve high standards of public administration

13. the public service depends on an innovative and creative workforce to deliver effective services and improve the performance of our agency Accountability and transparencyvalue ewe innovate and continuously improve performance

14. we carry out our duties in a professional manner we nurture a spirit of enquiry, value knowledge and learning we share our knowledge with our colleagues we learn from our colleagues we participate in training and development we challenge our selves to develop our personal skills and improve the way we carry out our duties Accountability and transparencyvalue ewe innovate and continuously improve performance

15. we participate in the debate of ideas that is at the heart of good policy making we participate in reviewing and implementing policy and procedures to improve organisational performance and ensuring the highest standard of service delivery we use processes and practices that broaden community involvement in government policy development, planning and decision making Accountability and transparencyvalue ewe innovate and continuously improve performance

16. we are respectful in our conduct towards colleagues in our teams our agency in other agencies Accountability and transparencyvalue fwe operate within mutual obligation and shared responsibility between agencies and employees

17. we are respectful in our conduct towards colleagues being courteous and polite responding positively to requests for assistance doing what we say we will and keeping people informed acknowledging and fixing any mistakes being professional about our colleagues in interactions with other colleagues and with members of the public Accountability and transparencyvalue fwe operate within mutual obligation and shared responsibility between agencies and employees

18. we are respectful in our conduct towards our agency professionally performing our duties being truthful, fair and honest in every acting consistently with policy and procedures; resolving issues in the public interest providing objective, independent, apolitical and impartial advice ensuring resources are not wasted, abused or used improperly or extravagantly Accountability and transparencyvalue fwe operate within mutual obligation and shared responsibility between agencies and employees

19. our agencies are respectful in their conduct towards employees through best practice human resource management equitable and flexible working environments Accountability and transparencyvalue fwe operate within mutual obligation and shared responsibility between agencies and employees

20. we treat all people equitably and consistently provide accurate and impartial advice to all clients apply due care in our work Promoting the public goodstandard of conduct 4.1we ensure diligence in public administration

21. we demonstrate the principles of procedural fairness and natural justice when making decisions exercise our lawful powers and authority with care and for the purpose for which these were granted Promoting the public goodstandard of conduct 4.1we ensure diligence in public administration

22. we comply with all reasonable and lawful instructions whether or not we personally agree with a given policy direction Promoting the public goodstandard of conduct 4.1we ensure diligence in public administration

23. [Insert agency example] [Insert reference to agency policy and procedure] Promoting the public goodstandard of conduct 4.1we ensure diligence in public administration

24. to ensure government dealings with private industry are conducted with the highest level of integrity business meetings with persons who were formerly Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries or senior government representatives are not on matters those persons had official dealings with in their recent previous employment any engagement we have with lobbyists is properly recorded Promoting the public goodstandard of conduct 4.2we ensure transparency in our business dealings

25. to ensure government dealings with private industry are conducted with the highest level of integrity we manage gifts, benefits or hospitality in accordance with our agency policies Promoting the public goodstandard of conduct 4.2we ensure transparency in our business dealings

26. [Insert agency example] [Insert reference to agency policy and procedure] Promoting the public goodstandard of conduct 4.2we ensure transparency in our business dealings

27. we avoid waste in using public resources purchase, manage, care for and use public resources in accordance with official policies responsibly use human assets: corporate knowledge and intellectual property Promoting the public goodstandard of conduct 4.2we use official information,public property and facilities appropriately

28. we use confidential information for proper purposes and not for private gain government property for official duties and not for private purposes government equipment for official duties and not to access or distribute inappropriate material Promoting the public goodstandard of conduct 4.2we use official information,public property and facilities appropriately

29. [Insert agency example] [Insert reference to agency policy and procedure] Promoting the public goodstandard of conduct 4.2we use official information,public property and facilities appropriately

30. the public has a right to the information created and used by the government on their behalf this is balanced by protections for certain information, including personal information we have an obligation to ensure the lawful collection and handling of personal information Promoting the public goodstandard of conduct 4.4we ensure appropriate use and disclosure of official information

31. we treat official information with care use it only for the purpose for which it was collected or authorised store official information securely limit access to people requiring it for legitimate purposes do not use confidential or privileged information for personal gain we will continue to respect the confidentiality of official information when we leave public service employment Promoting the public goodstandard of conduct 4.4we ensure appropriate use and disclosure of official information

32. [Insert agency example] [Insert reference to agency policy and procedure] Promoting the public goodstandard of conduct 4.4we ensure appropriate use and disclosure of official information

33. we maintain and develop professional skills and knowledge in consultation with managers, we take reasonable steps to apply for development opportunities we actively participate in employee performance management processes we actively contribute to business planning and improvement Promoting the public goodstandard of conduct 4.5we commit to innovation and continuous performance improvement

34. [Insert agency example] [Insert reference to agency policy and procedure] Promoting the public goodstandard of conduct 4.5we commit to innovation and continuous performance improvement