Update to conflict of interest resource suite 2024

Circular Number	2024-31
Issue date:	31  May 2024
Supersedes:	Circular 2018-02: consensual personal relationships in the workplace (Conflict of Interest), issued 27 August 2018
Application:	All public sector employees, including: employees managers public sector body heads contractors, consultants and labour hire employees whose contract requires them to comply with a public sector conflict of interest policy Any other workplace participants that the organisation lists as being covered by its conflict of interest policy. (For the purpose of this circular and the conflict of interest resource suite it refers to, all of the above are referred to as ‘employees’)
Resources:	Conflict of interest resource suite (updated May 2024)
Enquiries:	Integrity and Oversight branch Victorian Public Sector Commission 03 9922 8600 integrity@vpsc.vic.gov.au

Key points

The Victorian Public Sector Commission (VPSC) has updated the conflict of interest (COI) resource suite for public sector organisations and their employees.

It is the most wide-ranging update to these resources since 2016.

The resource suite will improve consistency across the public sector by:

• spelling out that having a conflict of interest is not in itself a sign of any wrongdoing
• providing examples and case studies of high-risk areas for potential conflict
• providing useful prompt questions to help employees identify if they have a conflict
• placing greater emphasis on matters which a reasonable person might perceive to be a conflict.

As public sector employees, when we perform our public duties, it’s vital that our decision-making is impartial, which includes always behaving in a manner that is fair and apolitical. This helps to maintain the public’s trust in public sector organisations and prevent corruption. Properly identifying and managing conflicts is an important way of delivering on this.

The updated documents include:

• model policy
• model COI declaration and management plan form
• guidance for employees on key things to know and do, plus information on specific topics – for example, consensual personal relationships
• strategies for organisations to assist implementation.

Although these resources are not binding on public sector organisations, it’s expected that most public sector organisations adopt them. They set good practice standards to support compliance with obligations under the codes of conduct and values that apply to the entire public sector. They can be adapted to take into account your organisation’s functions and operating environment.

Date commences

The new suite of resources took effect from the date of their publication on 31 May 2024.

Scope

This resource suite applies to:

• all public sector employees, including:
  • employees
  • managers
  • public sector body heads
• contractors, consultants and labour hire employees whose contract requires them to comply with a public sector organisation’s COI policy
• any other workplace participants the organisation lists as being covered by its conflict of interest policy.

(For the purpose of this circular and the COI resource suite it refers to, all of the above are referred to as ‘employees’.)