APS Integrity Taskforce
On 14 February 2023, the Secretaries Board endorsed a joint proposal by Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Attorney-General’s Department and the Australian Public Service Commission for an Australian Public Service Integrity Taskforce.
Announcing the taskforce, the Secretary of PM&C Professor Glyn Davis AC noted the substantial program of work already underway to strengthen integrity across the public sector. This includes the establishment of the National Anti-Corruption Commission and new whistleblower protections. The Secretary also acknowledged the significant issues emerging from the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme.
In partnership with APS agencies, the taskforce brought together information about initiatives underway across the APS and identified opportunities to coordinate and deliver system-wide improvements.
Terms of reference for the taskforce included measures relating to cultural and behavioural practices, leadership, pathways for raising issues or concerns, handling of legal advice and recordkeeping.
The taskforce found varying levels of integrity maturity across Australian Government agencies that highlighted both gaps to address and good practices to cross-pollinate across the APS.
Early taskforce findings were presented to Secretaries Board in May 2023, under the themes of culture, systems and accountability. The final report of the taskforce was submitted to Secretaries Board on 13 September 2023.
The taskforce was led by a First Assistant Secretary from the Attorney-General’s Department, supported by employees from PM&C, AGD, APSC and a number of other agencies. There was also a steering committee made up of a number of deputy secretaries from PM&C, AGD, the APSC and the Australian Taxation Office.
See also
Australian Government (n.d.) APS Integrity Taskforce Terms of Reference, PM&C website, https://www.pmc.gov.au/publications/aps-integrity-taskforce-terms-reference, accessed 5 October 2023.