Parliamentary Service Determination 2000/4
We, MARGARET REID, President of the Senate, and NEIL ANDREW, Speaker of the House of Representatives, make the following Determination under subsections 11(2) and 71(1) of the Parliamentary Service Act 1999.
Dated 2000
MARGARET REID NEIL ANDREW
Parliamentary Service Determination 2000/4
Determination
made under the
Parliamentary Service Act 1999
1 Name of Determination
This Determination is the Parliamentary Service Determination 2000/4.
2 Commencement
This Determination commences on the day it is notified in the Gazette.
3 Duty to incorporate, uphold and promote the Parliamentary Service Values
The Secretary of each Parliamentary Service department and each Parliamentary Service employee must use their best endeavours to incorporate in the Service, and must personally uphold and promote, the Parliamentary Service Values in accordance with this Determination.
4 Parliamentary Service Values
The Secretary of each Parliamentary Service department and each Parliamentary Service employee must use their best endeavours to:
(a) in relation to a Secretary of a department - put in place measures to ensure that the department is managed, staffed and functions to achieve the objectives set out below in relation to each Value; and
(b) in relation to an employee, taking into account the employee's duties and responsibilities in the department - help to ensure that the department is managed, staffed and functions to achieve the objectives set out below in relation to each Value.
5 Objectives of Parliamentary Service Values
The objectives of each of the Parliamentary Service values are:
Parliamentary Service Value 1
The Parliamentary Service provides professional advice and support for the Parliament independently of the Executive Government of the Commonwealth.
In providing advice and support to the Parliament, the Parliamentary Service is independent of the Executive Government and accountable directly to the Parliament.
Parliamentary Service Value 2
The Parliamentary Service provides non-partisan and impartial advice and services to each House of the Parliament, to committees of each House, to joint committees of both Houses and to Senators and Members of the House of Representatives.
In providing advice and services, the Parliamentary Service acts impartially, is independent of the party political system and political influence, and delivers the same high quality professional advice and services, irrespective of party politics and individual political beliefs.
Parliamentary Service Value 3
The Parliamentary Service has the highest ethical standards.
(1) The Parliamentary Service demonstrates and promotes the highest standards of ethical behaviour.
(2) Parliamentary Service employees use their best endeavours to promote and achieve the highest standards of ethical behaviour through their knowledge and observance of:
(a) the Parliamentary Service Values;
(b) the Code of Conduct;
(c) any other conduct requirement made by either House of the Parliament or by Determinations;
(d) any department-specific conduct requirement made by the Secretary;
(e) the consequences of breaching the Code of Conduct or any other conduct requirement; and
(f) the procedures for dealing with a breach of the Code of Conduct or any other conduct requirement.
(3) Procedures are in place for dealing with whistleblowing reports.
(4) Parliamentary Service employees are informed of the procedures for dealing with whistleblowing reports, and may make such reports in appropriate circumstances, knowing that they will be protected when they do so.
(5) Allegations of misconduct are addressed in a fair, timely, systematic and effective way to ensure that the Parliamentary Service retains the highest standards of ethical behaviour.
Parliamentary Service Value 4
The Parliamentary Service performs its functions with probity and is openly accountable for its actions to the Parliament.
(1) Parliamentary Service employees act with probity and are aware of their accountability for their behaviour as employees.
(2) Each Secretary and Parliamentary Service employee meets all applicable reporting obligations.
Parliamentary Service Value 5
The Parliamentary Service has leadership of the highest quality.
(1) The Secretary of each department provides leadership of the highest quality for the department and all of its employees.
(2) Secretaries use their employer powers in ways that develop and maintain the leadership roles and capabilities of the SES.
(3) Secretaries make full and proper use of the leadership roles of the SES.
(4) The Secretary and management of each department clearly articulate and communicate the departmental business plan.
(5) Parliamentary Service employees assist in communicating the business plan of their department and recognise their role in implementing the plan.
(6) Opportunities are provided for Parliamentary Service employees to develop and apply leadership qualities.
Parliamentary Service Value 6
Employment decisions in the Parliamentary Service are based on merit.
(1) Employment decisions in each department are based on merit principles and, in particular, on:
(a) an objective and comparative assessment of the relationship between a candidate’s work-related qualities and the work-related qualities genuinely required for effective and efficient performance of duties in the department; and
(b) other merit-related assessments as set out in subsection 10 (2) of the Act.
(2) Information about the requirements of employment in each department, and the relevant selection processes, are determined in advance and are readily available to candidates.
(3) Selection processes are applied fairly and consistently to each candidate.
Parliamentary Service Value 7
The Parliamentary Service provides a workplace that is free from discrimination and recognises and utilises the diversity of the Australian community.
(1) Each department complies with all Commonwealth anti-discrimination laws.
Note: See, for example, the Racial Discrimination Act 1975, the Sex Discrimination Act 1984, the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 and the Workplace Relations Act 1996.
(2) Decisions to engage people recognise the value of the diversity of the Australian community in the context of the business goals of the Parliamentary Service and the skills required to meet those goals.
(3) The diverse backgrounds of Parliamentary Service employees are utilised effectively in meeting the business goals of each department.
(4) Parliamentary Service employees are helped to balance their work and family responsibilities effectively.
Parliamentary Service Value 8
The Parliamentary Service establishes workplace relations that value communication, consultation, cooperation and input from employees on matters that affect their workplace.
(1) The Secretary and management of each department ensure that employees are aware of the existence and importance of departmental business goals and responsibilities and of how the employees' work contributes to the achievement of those goals and responsibilities.
(2) Parliamentary Service employees have appropriate opportunities, and are encouraged, to contribute their views on issues affecting their workplace.
(3) Parliamentary Service employees accept their role in the consultative arrangements in place in each department and carry them out conscientiously and constructively.
(4) The consultative arrangements complement the decision-making responsibilities of Secretaries and management.
Parliamentary Service Value 9
The Parliamentary Service provides a fair, flexible, safe and rewarding workplace.
(1) Employment and workplace arrangements assist Parliamentary Service employees to balance individual needs and the achievement of business goals.
(2) Each department complies with Commonwealth OH&S legislation.
(3) Decisions on employment matters apply equity and procedural fairness.
Parliamentary Service Value 10
The Parliamentary Service focuses on achieving results and managing performance.
(1) The Parliamentary Service is led, staffed and managed in ways that give it the organisational capacity, flexibility and responsiveness necessary to achieve the results expected by the Parliament.
(2) Each department has a culture of high performance and achievement that is supported by each employee.
(3) Each department has a fair and open performance management system that:
(a) includes all of its employees;
(b) links performance to business goals;
(c) recognises individual and, where appropriate, team performance; and
(d) provides each employee with a clear statement of performance expectations and the opportunity to comment on those expectations.
Parliamentary Service Value 11
The Parliamentary Service uses Commonwealth resources properly and cost-effectively.
Each department and its employees use Commonwealth resources in an efficient, effective and ethical way to achieve the results expected by the Parliament.
Parliamentary Service Value 12
The Parliamentary Service promotes equity in employment.
(1) Employment decisions in each department are free from political interference and unlawful discrimination.
(2) Employment decisions in each department are made in an equitable and procedurally fair way.
(3) Each department takes measures to eliminate employment-related disadvantages on the basis of:
(a) being an Aboriginal or a Torres Strait Islander within the meaning of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975;
(b) gender;
(c) race or ethnicity; or
(d) physical or mental disability.
(4) Each department has a workplace diversity program in place.
Parliamentary Service Value 13
The Parliamentary Service provides a reasonable opportunity to all members of the community to apply for Parliamentary Service employment.
Opportunities for employment in each department are notified in a way that gives eligible members of the community a reasonable opportunity to apply for them.
Parliamentary Service Value 14
The Parliamentary Service is a career-based service to enhance the effectiveness and cohesion of Australia's democratic system of government.
(1) The Parliamentary Service Values and Code of Conduct reflect a public interest ethos and share a number of key elements with the Australian Public Service.
(2) Each department promotes an understanding among its employees of the ethos of the Parliamentary Service as embodied in the Parliamentary Service Values and Code of Conduct.
(3) All Parliamentary Service employees are encouraged to value their membership of the Parliamentary Service and the contribution they make to the democratic system of government.
(4) Each department practises and encourages consultation, communication and the sharing of knowledge within the Parliamentary Service and with other Commonwealth agencies and the community.
(5) The benefit of mobility of employees between the Parliamentary Service and Commonwealth Agencies is recognised.
(6) Each department is staffed and managed on a basis that sustains core knowledge, expertise and the highest standards of professionalism and behaviour.
(7) The Secretary of each department upholds and promotes these objectives both:
(a) in respect of his or her department; and
(b) when working with other Secretaries as the collective leadership of the Parliamentary Service.
Parliamentary Service Value 15
The Parliamentary Service provides a fair system of review of decisions taken in respect of Parliamentary Service employees.
(1) Each department has a system for the review of decisions affecting its employees.
(2) The system complies with the Act, the Determinations and the requirements of procedural fairness.
Note
1. Made by the Presiding Officers on 29 November 2000, and notified in the © Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 13 December 2000.