Some recent isolated cases involving misuse of the Internet and Email have reflected badly on the good reputation of the NSW public sector.

The Protocol for Acceptable Use of the Internet and Electronic Mail Use issued by my Department (Premier's Department Circular 99-09) in 1999 emphasised that inappropriate use included:

• Intentionally transmitting, communicating or accessing pornographic or sexually explicit material, images or other offensive material.

Agencies were advised of the requirement to provide employees with a clear statement of their responsibilities when using the Internet and Email. All employees provided with access to the Internet were required to confirm in writing that they have read and understood the Agency's policy and guidelines on Internet and Email use.

If not done already, all agencies are now required to display each day when staff login to their computer, an Acceptable Usage Policy. The Policy is to include that:

• Using the agency's computer resources to seek out, access or send any material of an offensive, obscene, pornographic, threatening, abusive or defamatory nature is prohibited and may result in disciplinary action.

Should any staff in your agency face allegations of breaching the Acceptable Usage Policy, in particular in relation to pornographic and obscene material, the matter should be investigated promptly and any subsequent discipline action should be dealt with expeditiously. Undue delays with a matter are not in the interests of the agency or the employee.

The current policy on the suspension of public sector employees is contained in Memorandum 94-35. In exceptional circumstances Chief Executives may suspend an employee from duty without pay. Exceptional circumstances may include accessing or transmitting offensive, pornographic or sexually explicit material.

Could you please advise Chief Executives in your portfolio of the above requirements.

Bob Carr
Premier