Premier’s Communiqué Interaction between ministerial staff and public servants The purpose of this Communiqué is to service. provide clear direction on the expected Ministerial staff do not have any executive standards of conduct for interactions power or other legal authority to direct between ministerial staff and public public service employees in their own service employees. right. However, they perform a critical role Ministerial staff and public servants must in facilitating communication of ministerial have a clear understanding of their priorities to departments and acting as a respective roles and responsibilities within conduit between Ministers and public the broader context of our system of service employees, for example by government: communicating ministerial views or decisions. Ministerial staff must not ask a Ministers. The system dictates that, as public service employee to take any action elected representatives, Ministers are which would be inconsistent with that individually responsible to Parliament for person's duties and obligations under the the administration of their portfolios, and Public Service Act 2008 or under the that governments are collectively Public Sector Ethics Act 1994. accountable to the community through the electoral process. Positive and productive interaction between the administrative and political Public Servants. The public service gives arms of government is central to good effect to the policies and decisions of the government. Together, the work government of the day, regardless of its performed by ministerial staff and the political complexion, and provides advice public service contributes to a robust that is objective and impartial as well as system that allows Ministers to receive responsive, accurate and comprehensive. information and analysis that enable them Directors-General are responsible for the to make informed decisions. delivery of their services and department’s are ultimately accountable to the Premier, although they report to their responsible Minister on a day-to-day basis. All interactions between Ministers, Ministerial Staff. The practical realities of ministerial staff and public servants are the ministerial workload require that subject to a comprehensive framework of Ministers receive support laws, policies and codes of conduct that establish legal obligations and expected standards of behaviour. to manage portfolio responsibilities, control policy direction and negotiate the Within the context of this framework, the political arena. This is the primary purpose Queensland Government expects that: of employing ministerial staff; they support Ministerial staff and public service and assist Ministers to meet their broad employees must, at all times, behave responsibilities and provide advice which honestly and with integrity in the takes account of political considerations course of their employment, treating and complements the advice of the public
Premier’s Communiqué Interaction between ministerial staff and public servants The purpose of this Communiqué is to provide clear direction on the expected standards of conduct for interactions between ministerial staff and public service employees. Ministerial staff and public servants must have a clear understanding of their respective roles and responsibilities within the broader context of our system of government: Ministers. The system dictates that, as elected representatives, Ministers are individually responsible to Parliament for the administration of their portfolios, and that governments are collectively accountable to the community through the electoral process. Public Servants. The public service gives effect to the policies and decisions of the government of the day, regardless of its political complexion, and provides advice that is objective and impartial as well as responsive, accurate and comprehensive. Directors-General are responsible for the delivery of their department’s services and are ultimately accountable to the Premier, although they report to their responsible Minister on a day-to-day basis. Ministerial Staff. The practical realities of the ministerial workload require that Ministers receive support to manage portfolio responsibilities, control policy direction and negotiate the political arena. This is the primary purpose of employing ministerial staff; they support and assist Ministers to meet their broad responsibilities and provide advice which takes account of political considerations and complements the advice of the public service. Ministerial staff do not have any executive power or other legal authority to direct public service employees in their own right. However, they perform a critical role in facilitating communication of ministerial priorities to departments and acting as a conduit between Ministers and public service employees, for example by communicating ministerial views or decisions. Ministerial staff must not ask a public service employee to take any action which would be inconsistent with that person's duties and obligations under the Public Service Act 2008 or under the Public Sector Ethics Act 1994. Positive and productive interaction between the administrative and political arms of government is central to good government. Together, the work performed by ministerial staff and the public service contributes to a robust system that allows Ministers to receive information and analysis that enable them to make informed decisions. All interactions between Ministers, ministerial staff and public servants are subject to a comprehensive framework of laws, policies and codes of conduct that establish legal obligations and expected standards of behaviour. Within the context of this framework, the Queensland Government expects that: Ministerial staff and public service employees must, at all times, behave honestly and with integrity in the course of their employment, treating
protocols-communication-min-staff-public-service-employees.docx