About Us
What we do
In summary, under the Public Sector Management Act 1994 and Public Interest Disclosure Act 2003 OPSSC:
- establishes public sector standards, codes and procedures for official conduct, human resource management and public interest disclosures;
- assists public sector bodies to comply with the standards, codes and procedures;
- monitors compliance;
- reports to Parliament on compliance or non-compliance by public sector bodies and employees; and
- assists in the recruitment of government chief executive officers.
Specifically, the role of OPSSC is prescribed in legislation as follows:
Public Sector Management Act 1994 (s22)
provides affirmation of the intended independence of the function from other arms of Government:
"The Commissioner shall act independently in relation to the performance of his or her functions".
Public Sector Management Act 1994 (s21)
describes the key functions and accountability arrangements in some detail, summarised as follows:
- establish, monitor, ensure compliance and provide assistance with public sector standards;
- establish, monitor, ensure compliance and provide assistance with the code of ethics;
- report to Parliament on compliance and non-compliance with public sector standards and code of ethics;
- report to Ministers of the Crown on compliance and non-compliance with public sector standards and code of ethics;
- amend or repeal standards or code of ethics;
- assist public sector bodies to develop, amend or repeal codes of conduct – setting out the minimum standards of conduct and integrity and monitoring compliance with those codes.
Public Sector Management Act 1994 (s24)
provides authority to investigate public sector bodies with respect to the functions of the Commissioner; these functions are set out in the General Principles of Human Resource Management and Official Conduct, and are bound in the Act Public Sector Management Act 1994 (s1) (a-c) and s9.
Public Sector Management Act 1994 (s25)
provides authority for the Commissioner to exempt public sector bodies from a whole or part of any public sector standard or code of ethics.
Public Sector Management Act 1994 (s45 & s48)
provides authority for OPSSC to undertake selection processes and nominate people for appointment to CEO positions and provides advice on proposals to not reappoint acting CEOs.
Public Interest Disclosure Act 2003 (s19)
provides authority for OPSSC to monitor compliance with the PID Act and codes.
Public Interest Disclosure Act 2003 (s19)
provides authority for OPSSC to assist public authorities and public officers to comply with the Act.
Public Interest Disclosure Act 2003 (s20 & 21)
- provides authority for OPSSC to establish a code and prepare guidelines setting out standards and processes for the execution of Public Interest;
- promote compliance with the Act.
Public Interest Disclosure Act 2003 (s22)
provides authority for OPSSC to report annually to Parliament on compliance with the Act.
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Page last updated: July 09 2009