The Public Service Act, 1999 specifies that a public servant must not take advantage, or seek to take advantage, of their official position in order to obtain a benefit for either themselves or someone else. Benefits that may compromise the ethics of a decision maker include:
A gift may only be accepted with the express written approval of the Secretary. However, the Secretary may specify the conditions under which a gift or benefit may be accepted without seeking written approval.
More ? [2]
Some of the factors which are taken into consideration when assessing whether a gift or benefit should be accepted include:
Any acceptance of a benefit or gift which could be defined as a bribe would not result in disciplinary action under the Public Service Act 1999, but is an offence under the Crimes Act 1914. It is also an offence to solicit a gift in return for the public servant either performing, or refraining from performing, a specific action.
More ? [3]
APS Values and Code of Conduct in practice - Chapter 12: Gifts and benefits
http://www.apsc.gov.au/values/conductguidelines14.htm [4]
DVA Guidelines for the Acceptance of Gifts and Benefits (internal/DVA staff link)
http://sharepoint/Documents/ourpeople/Accept%20Gift%20Guidelines.tr5 [5]
Acceptance of gifts or benefits refer to the Public Service Act, 1999
http://scaleplus.law.gov.au/html/pasteact/3/3322/top.htm [6]
Links
[1] https://clik.dva.gov.au/user/login?destination=node/16904%23comment-form
[2] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16904#tgt-cspol_part11_ftn222
[3] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16904#tgt-cspol_part11_ftn223
[4] http://www.apsc.gov.au/values/conductguidelines14.htm
[5] http://sharepoint/Documents/ourpeople/Accept%20Gift%20Guidelines.tr5
[6] http://scaleplus.law.gov.au/html/pasteact/3/3322/top.htm
[7] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16904#ref-cspol_part11_ftn222
[8] https://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-policy-library/part-11-administration-payments/119-powers-administration-and-delegation/1194-ethics-decision-makers/conflicts-interest
[9] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16904#ref-cspol_part11_ftn223