If your organisation has identified its high risk areas for conflict of interest this will help it to develop effective preventative strategies.
In addition, preventative strategies can be put in place in relation to external stakeholders such as contractors, suppliers and clients of the organisation.
For example:
Contractors, suppliers or clients
Some preventative strategies to reduce the likelihood of a conflict of interest arising when employees are dealing with contractors or clients include:
- provide external stakeholders with information about your organisation’s conflict of interest policy, processes and culture.
- also provide information about how your organisation’s gifts, benefits and hospitality (GBH) policy actively discourages offers from prospective or existing business relationships and (with very few exceptions) prohibits employees accepting them.
- include integrity-related requirements in contracts with contractors and suppliers
- ensure suppliers are aware of their obligations under Victorian Government’s Supplier code of conduct
- require contractors, consultants or labour hire employees as part of their contract to comply with your organisation’s conflict of interest policy and the relevant Victorian public sector employee code
- conduct regular audits of client relationships and/or contract administration
- maintain robust case and file management systems.
Reducing conflicts of interest in VPS procurement
If your organisation is part of the Victorian public service (VPS), such as a government department or administrative office, see our guidance on conflicts of interest in procurement – guide for the Victorian Public Service (VPS). This guidance does not apply to the broader public sector, such as public entities.