| Circular Number | 2024-30 |
| Issue date: | 29 May 2024 |
| Application: | All public sector heads and CEOs Accountable officers under the Financial Management Act 1994 Public sector employees |
| Resources: | Minimum accountabilities for gifts, benefits and hospitality Gifts, benefits and hospitality model policy Standing Directions 2018 (Instructions) |
| Enquiries: | Integrity and Oversight branch Victorian Public Sector Commission integrity@vpsc.vic.gov.au |
Key points
The Victorian Public Sector Commissioner has:
- issued updated minimum accountabilities for gifts, benefits and hospitality under the Standing Directions 2018 under the Financial Management Act 1994, and
- published an updated gifts, benefits and hospitality model policy to support these.
The model policy has been updated to provide greater guidance and to implement new requirements in the minimum accountabilities.
This is the first major update to the minimum accountabilities and model policy since 2016 and it is designed to set out clear and easy to follow obligations for public sector employees and organisations.
It is essential that each public sector employee understands that there are very strict requirements around the circumstances in which a gift, benefit or hospitality can be accepted and that they should not be solicited in any way.
To support this understanding, updates to the policy and minimum accountabilities include clearer definitions, practical examples and reflect changes in the way that suppliers, stakeholders and other parties make offers and seek to influence the public sector.
The updates also make clear that public sector organisations should adopt a ‘thanks is enough’ approach to dealing with any offers while maintaining detailed and transparent records of the circumstances where an offer is accepted.
This will increase transparency and ensure that trust in the public sector is upheld.
Date the minimum accountabilities commence
The minimum accountabilities commence from 1 July 2024.
Requirements
The minimum accountabilities are binding on public entities that are subject to the Financial Management Act 1994.
The Accountable Officer under the Financial Management Act 1994 must ensure that their agency develops policies and procedures that apply the minimum accountabilities.
The model policy can be adapted to meet local needs, providing there is compliance with the minimum accountabilities.
Scope
The minimum accountabilities apply to and are binding on all public entities that are subject to the Financial Management Act 1994.