By the Integrity, Performance and Employment Policy Branch at the Australian Public Service Commission.
The Australian Public Service Commission has recently issued new directions and guidance to staff working in parliamentarians’ offices, including those staff who may be APS employees.
The Australian Public Service Commissioner’s Directions 2022 have been amended to provide that the Impartial and Committed to Service Values do not apply to APS employees who are on leave without pay and are separately employed under the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 (MOP(S) Act) for the duration of that engagement. All other APS Values must be complied with, and those APS employees must continue to uphold the integrity and good reputation of their home agency and the APS and are accountable through the APS Code of Conduct. This Direction commenced on 21 February 2025.
New guidance is available on the APSC website which outlines these changes and sets out all of the other behavioural codes, standards and disciplinary frameworks that apply to APS employees in the parliamentary workplace. This includes staff who may work in the parliamentary workplace from time to time as APS employees, such as Departmental Liaison Officers.
Separately, the Department of Finance has issued new determinations and guidance about parliamentary business and MOP(S) Act employment arrangements. Further information is available on Finance’s Ministerial and Parliamentary Services website.
If you have any questions relating to these respective changes please contact ethics@apsc.gov.au or mpshelp@finance.gov.au.