2015-03-03 Planning & Organisation Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                 3 MARCH 2015


Action Complaints Process, Employee Code of Conduct, Councillor Code of Conduct,
Internal Audit Policy and Program and Risk Management Policy and Program.

2. The Noosa Council Public Interest Disclosure Policy

The Policy confirms:
   Council’s commitment to the disclosure of information about suspected wrongdoing
     within the organisation so that it can be properly evaluated to determine whether it
     meets the requirements of a PID and, if necessary, appropriately investigated.
   Council’s commitment to ensuring appropriate protection is afforded to persons making
     a PID.
   That the CEO is responsible for the development of an appropriate Management
     Program and Procedure, which meets the prescribed requirements of the PID Act and
     standards of the Queensland Ombudsman.

A disclosure about suspected wrongdoing should be considered at first instance as meeting
the prescribed elements of a PID if the discloser reasonably believes the action or activity
constitutes:
    Official misconduct;
    Maladministration;
    A substantial misuse of public resources;
    A specific and substantial danger to public health and safety;
    A specific and substantial danger to health or safety of a person with a disability;
    A specific and substantial danger to the environment; or
    A reprisal.

3. The Management Program and Procedure

The Management Program and Procedure provides the necessary detail and guidance for
the organisation to ensure that the requirements set out in Council’s Public Interest
Disclosure Policy are met and followed throughout the organisation.

The Management Program and Procedure will be developed using guides provided by the
Queensland Ombudsman and other local government examples. Specifically, it will
incorporate the following fundamental elements prescribed by the Queensland Ombudsman:
    An organisational commitment to encourage the internal reporting of wrongdoing;
    Senior management endorsement of the value to the organisation of PIDs and the
      proper management of PIDs and disclosers;
    A communication strategy for raising staff awareness about PIDs and the
      organisation’s PID procedures;
    A training strategy to ensure:
      o      Staff are given access to training on the identification of wrongdoing, how to
             make a PID, the support and protection afforded to disclosers, and how PIDs will
             be managed;
      o      The provision of specialist training and awareness about PIDs to senior
             managers and other staff who may receive or manage PIDs, disclosers or
             workplace issues relating to a PID;
    The appointment of a nominated officer to be responsible for issues related to the
      management of PIDs;
    A commitment to ensuring effective systems are in place for issues arising from PIDs
      to inform improvements to service delivery, business processes and internal controls;
      and




                                                                                Page 144 of 147