The Public Service Commission has published Behaving Ethically: A guide for NSW government sector employees.
More than ever, it is essential that everyone working in the NSW government sector understands and complies with the obligation to behave ethically, in ways that are consistent with the government sector core values. Ethical behaviour is essential to productive working relationships, quality customer service, good governance, and community trust in the government sector.
The core values that make up the Ethical framework for the government sector—integrity, trust, service and accountability—are set out in the Government Sector Employment Act 2013. These values are at the heart of our ethical obligations as NSW Government employees.
Behaving Ethically is designed to assist agencies and employees to meet the ethical obligations arising from the Government Sector Employment Act 2013, and related obligations in other legislation. It includes the following:

• A Public Service Commissioner direction requiring agency heads to implement minimum standards for managing gifts and benefits
• A draft Code of Ethics and Conduct for NSW government sector employees, which is currently the subject of consultation with Department Secretaries and agency heads
• An explanation of roles, responsibilities and obligations in a Westminster system of government
• Advice on how to discuss sensitive ethical issues with colleagues, and a guide to ethical decision making
• Strategies for agencies to develop ethical cultures, leadership and customer service standards and to measure the ethical performance of employees and agencies.

Behaving Ethically also includes scenarios that employees can use to test their ethical judgment in a range of difficult situations: can I accept a ‘display of appreciation’ from a supplier? How should I respond to a request to revise advice to a Minister? What constitutes a conflict of interests – and what should I do when faced with one?
I encourage all government sector employees to make use of Behaving Ethically: A guide for NSW government sector employees.

Graeme Head 

Public Service Commissioner