Good conduct and administrative practice guidelines for state and local government

Good conduct and administrative practice is the foundation of effective public administration. It is important that governments are fair, transparent and accountable particularly when making decisions that have an impact on the rights and entitlements of the public. 

In NSW, state and local governments are held to account through oversight by Parliament, various integrity agencies (including the Ombudsman, Independent Commission Against Corruption, the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission and the Auditor-General), the courts, the media and advocacy groups.

State and local government officials are expected to perform their duties to the highest standard,  complying with the law and accepted principles of good conduct and administrative practice. Some of these principles are:

• acting ethically, fairly and in the public interest
• avoiding corrupt conduct
• avoiding conflicts of interest
• disclosing wrongdoing
• appropriately exercising discretionary powers
• resolving conflicts and handling complaints
• accepting scrutiny, acting transparently and managing risk
• using public resources efficiently.

Informed by administrative law, the work of the NSW Ombudsman over the past 40+ years and the expertise of other oversight agencies, the Good conduct and administrative practice guidelines explains how public organisations can apply these principles in their public sector context. It is intended to:

• assist public officials to understand the standards of good conduct and administrative practice that are expected of them
• provide guidance to managers to assist in the supervision and training of staff 
• assist organisations to develop and review relevant policies and procedures.