Protocols for communication between ministerial staff members and public service employees Purpose The purpose of these protocols is to provide for proper and transparent communication between ministerial staff members and public service employees. Application These protocols constitute a policy that: 2.1.1 applies to employees of departments of government declared under section 14 of the Public Service Act 2008 (the Code of Conduct for the Queensland Public Service provides that public service employees will comply with whole-of-government policies); 2.1.2 applies to ministerial staff members (the Code of Conduct for Ministerial Staff Members provides that ministerial staff members will comply with applicable policies); and 2.1.2 complements the concurrent Premier’s Communiqué entitled Interaction between Ministerial Staff and Public Servants (Attachment 1). Effective date: March 2015 Context Ministers and their staff should perform and behave to the highest standard. Ministers are to make decisions that are open and accountable, and function under a clear line of responsibility for their departments, in accordance with the Westminster system of departments reporting to a single Minister. Proper and transparent communication between ministerial officers and the public service is an important part of restored accountability in government. Principles The Queensland Government operates as a system of responsible government. Governments are responsible collectively to the community through the electoral process and are supported by an independent public service. Ministers are responsible individually to Parliament for the administration of their portfolios. Directors-General are responsible for the delivery of their departments’ services and are accountable ultimately to the Premier, although they report to their responsible Minister on a day-to-day basis. Departments are responsible for giving independent and apolitical advice to assist the government and the Minister with decision-making.
Premier’s Communiqué Interaction between ministerial staff and public servants The purpose of this Communiqué is to provide clear direction on the expected standards of conduct for interactions between ministerial staff and public service employees. Ministerial staff and public servants must have a clear understanding of their respective roles and responsibilities within the broader context of our system of government: Ministers. The system dictates that, as elected representatives, Ministers are individually responsible to Parliament for the administration of their portfolios, and that governments are collectively accountable to the community through the electoral process. Public Servants. The public service gives effect to the policies and decisions of the government of the day, regardless of its political complexion, and provides advice that is objective and impartial as well as responsive, accurate and comprehensive. Directors-General are responsible for the delivery of their department’s services and are ultimately accountable to the Premier, although they report to their responsible Minister on a day-to-day basis. Ministerial Staff. The practical realities of the ministerial workload require that Ministers receive support to manage portfolio responsibilities, control policy direction and negotiate the political arena. This is the primary purpose of employing ministerial staff; they support and assist Ministers to meet their broad responsibilities and provide advice which takes account of political considerations and complements the advice of the public service. Ministerial staff do not have any executive power or other legal authority to direct public service employees in their own right. However, they perform a critical role in facilitating communication of ministerial priorities to departments and acting as a conduit between Ministers and public service employees, for example by communicating ministerial views or decisions. Ministerial staff must not ask a public service employee to take any action which would be inconsistent with that person's duties and obligations under the Public Service Act 2008 or under the Public Sector Ethics Act 1994. Positive and productive interaction between the administrative and political arms of government is central to good government. Together, the work performed by ministerial staff and the public service contributes to a robust system that allows Ministers to receive information and analysis that enable them to make informed decisions. All interactions between Ministers, ministerial staff and public servants are subject to a comprehensive framework of laws, policies and codes of conduct that establish legal obligations and expected standards of behaviour. Within the context of this framework, the Queensland Government expects that: Ministerial staff and public service employees must, at all times, behave honestly and with integrity in the course of their employment, treating