Protocols for communication between ministerial staff members and public service employees Purpose Context Ministers and their staff should perform The purpose of these protocols is to and behave to the highest standard. provide for proper and transparent Ministers are to make decisions that are communication between ministerial staff open and accountable, and function members and public service employees. under a clear line of responsibility for their departments, in accordance with Application the Westminster system of departments reporting to a single Minister. These protocols constitute a Proper and transparent communication government policy that: between ministerial officers and the 2.1.1 applies to employees of public service is an important part of departments of restored accountability in government. declared under section 14 of the Public Service Act 2008 (the Code of Conduct for the Principles Queensland Public Service provides that public service The Queensland Government operates employees will comply with as a system of responsible government. whole-of-government policies); Governments are responsible 2.1.2 applies to ministerial staff collectively to the community through members (the Code of Conduct the electoral process and are supported for Ministerial Staff Members by an independent public service. provides that ministerial staff Ministers are responsible individually to members will comply with Parliament for the administration of applicable policies); and their portfolios. Directors-General are responsible for the delivery of their 2.1.2 complements the concurrent and are departments’ services Communiqué entitled Premier’s accountable ultimately to the Premier, Interaction between Ministerial although they report to their responsible Staff and Public Servants Minister on a day-to-day basis. (Attachment 1). giving Departments are responsible for Effective date: March 2015 independent and apolitical advice to assist the government and the Minister with decision-making.
Protocols for communication between ministerial staff members and public service employees Purpose The purpose of these protocols is to provide for proper and transparent communication between ministerial staff members and public service employees. Application These protocols constitute a policy that: 2.1.1 applies to employees of departments of government declared under section 14 of the Public Service Act 2008 (the Code of Conduct for the Queensland Public Service provides that public service employees will comply with whole-of-government policies); 2.1.2 applies to ministerial staff members (the Code of Conduct for Ministerial Staff Members provides that ministerial staff members will comply with applicable policies); and 2.1.2 complements the concurrent Premier’s Communiqué entitled Interaction between Ministerial Staff and Public Servants (Attachment 1). Effective date: March 2015 Context Ministers and their staff should perform and behave to the highest standard. Ministers are to make decisions that are open and accountable, and function under a clear line of responsibility for their departments, in accordance with the Westminster system of departments reporting to a single Minister. Proper and transparent communication between ministerial officers and the public service is an important part of restored accountability in government. Principles The Queensland Government operates as a system of responsible government. Governments are responsible collectively to the community through the electoral process and are supported by an independent public service. Ministers are responsible individually to Parliament for the administration of their portfolios. Directors-General are responsible for the delivery of their departments’ services and are accountable ultimately to the Premier, although they report to their responsible Minister on a day-to-day basis. Departments are responsible for giving independent and apolitical advice to assist the government and the Minister with decision-making.
protocols-communication-min-staff-public-service-employees.docx