2021-11-15 GC Agenda - Item 12 - Attachment 1 - Noosa Council Annual Report 2020-21

                                                                               2020 - 21 Annual Report



Public Sector Ethics Disclosures
In accordance with sections 23 and 12M of the Public Sector Ethics Act 1994, which are applicable
to local governments, Council is required to have developed and implemented a code of conduct
based on the following ethics principles and values:
   • integrity and impartiality;
   • promoting the public good;
   • commitment to the system of government; and,
   • accountability and transparency.
Council’s employees are bound by the standards of behaviour set in Council’s Employee Code of
Conduct (the Code). Agreeing to work in compliance of the Code is a mandatory requirement of
all positions. During the period, council provided online e-learning and face-to-face training and
education to all employees on its expectations regarding conduct through inductions of new staff
members and re inductions of existing staff. This approach has made it easier for employees to
complete timely training and testing to ensure they understand their responsibilities to adhere to
the Code.
Additional targeted online e-learning training on elements of the Code was provided to all staff
throughout the financial year on the following topics:
   • Privacy;
   • Human Rights;
   • Preventing corruption; and,
   • Public Interest Disclosures.
Similarly, all Councillors were provided with training on various ethical and governance topics
including conflicts of interest, risk, complaints management, public interest disclosures, preventing
corruption, and human rights.
During the financial year, Council’s 2021 Public Interest Disclosure Program was adopted and
published on Council’s website. To support this program, managers, supervisors and the executive
team were provided with refresh training in Public Interest Disclosures to strengthen ethical
principles and practices across Council.
Additionally, substantial progress has been made to develop a new Governance Framework based
on the four pillars of the Public Sector Ethics Act 1994 with the intention of adopting this framework
in the following financial year and which will apply to all employees and Councillors.




Administrative Action Complaints
Council is committed to providing quality customer service and communicating effectively with our
community. Council acknowledges the importance of accountable and transparent decision making
to ensure all complaints are dealt with in a fair, prompt, confidential and respectful manner. Council’s
Administrative Action Complaints process provides customers the opportunity to lodge a complaint
about a decision or action Council has taken, or failed to take, where considered appropriate in the
circumstances to do so. This process allows customers to request a review of decisions made by
Council where no other formal appeal provisions are available under legislation or within Council.


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