All staff are expected to behave professionally, ethically and with integrity, and to exercise their powers in a fair, reasonable, proper and lawful manner.
We have a team that is responsible for the receipt, assessment and investigation of matters concerning the integrity of our staff.
Our conduct framework
We have procedures for:
- determining breaches to the APS Code of Conduct
- sanctions we impose
These are established under section 15 (3) of the Public Service Act 1999. We publish the procedures as per section 15 (7) of the Act.
Download:
- Procedures for determining breaches of the Australian Public Service (APS) Code of Conduct and the imposition of sanctions [PDF 281 KB]
- Procedures for determining breaches of the Australian Public Service (APS) Code of Conduct and the imposition of sanctions [DOCX 234 KB]
If you have difficulty accessing these files, contact us for help.
How to report
We take all integrity concerns seriously.
Notify our Integrity team if you have information on inappropriate, fraudulent or corrupt behaviour involving our staff or any business we interact with.
To report an integrity concern:
- Phone: Integrity hotline on 1800 99 88 80
- Email: integrity@aff.gov.au
- Post: GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 2600
Public Interest Disclosure (PID)
Public officials (disclosers) who suspect wrongdoing within the Commonwealth public sector can raise their concerns under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013 (PID Act).
Allegations made under the PID Act are public interest disclosures (PID).
All Australian Government agencies, Commonwealth companies and public authorities have responsibilities under the PID Act to:
- investigate suspected wrongdoing
- take appropriate action
Conduct which may be the subject of a PID includes, but is not limited to:
- a contravention of the law
- corruption
- perverting the course of justice
- maladministration
- an abuse of public trust
- falsifying scientific research
- wastage of public money
- conduct that is a danger to health, safety and the environment
The PID Act offers protection to disclosers (‘whistleblowers’) from reprisal action.
For more information:
- read assessing and managing the risk of reprisal (Commonwealth Ombudsman)
- visit Public Interest Disclosure (Commonwealth Ombudsman)
How to make a public interest disclosure
To submit a public interest disclosure or for more information:
- call the Integrity hotline 1800 99 88 80 and state that you would like to make a public interest disclosure
- email PID@aff.gov.au
Alternatively you can make a PID directly to the Commonwealth Ombudsman
- call: 02 6276 3777
- email: PID@ombudsman.gov.au
PIDS should include as much information as possible:
- name and contact details
- the nature of the wrongdoing
- who committed the wrongdoing
- when and where the wrongdoing occurred
- relevant background information and events
- if anything has been done in response to the wrongdoing
- contact details for anyone else who is aware of the wrongdoing
- any concerns about possible reprisal a result of making the disclosure