PUBLIC servants are receiving gifts of sporting tickets, international travel, $200 whisky gift packs and thousands of dollars' worth of vouchers in the course of their work. The state's anti-corruption watchdog is urging the public service to implement a "no gifts" policy following a report that revealed dozens of gifts and benefits that were either not registered or deemed to be inappropriate. The Integrity Commission report tabled in State Parliament on Tuesday found "systemic failures" across the state service when it came to managing gifts. The 12-month investigation examined department gift registers and policies and found there was a "lax approach" to hospitality, events and functions. Tickets to horse racing, movies, music festivals, car racing and AFL matches were commonplace, despite having no connection to employee duties. It also found French champagne and expensive electrical equipment such as iPads and televisions were not being declared in one department. Integrity Commission chief executive Diane Merryfull said the report found obvious conflicts of interest, such as a $200 bottle of whisky after a contract was signed. "Every time a person who is involved in a procurement takes a gift from a supplier, that's obviously a conflict of interest," she said. "The investigation revealed there was a fundamental problem with the current policy, which in practice allows employees to take gifts provided those gifts are declared." Ms Merryfull said the policy relied on managers to understand when there was a conflict of interest, but understanding was lacking, and there was "widespread poor decision-making". Premier Will Hodgman said the report did not suggest any impropriety or exchange of gifts that led to a bias. "The government trusts its employees to exercise good judgment, supported by training and education and a clear accountability and reporting framework, and believes in a commonsense approach to this issue," he said. Department of Premier and Cabinet secretary Greg Johannes said a commonsense approach was needed. "I don't think it's inappropriate for someone to give a paramedic a box of chocolates because they saved their partner's life," he said. Mr Johannes said the department was acting on all five recommendations of the report, which included amending the definition of "gift" and "benefit", and making gift registers publicly available. "My own view is that the report is going too far when it suggests taking a cup of coffee from a fellow public servant is inappropriate," he said. APPROVED: ● $3240 worth of gift vouchers from a supplier to procurement staff. ● $199 whisky gift pack to employee from a company to thank them for a contract. ● Lunch for an employee after a meeting about the sale of Crown land. ● Airfares and accommodation to Singapore. ● Tickets for three employees to an all-day cricket match at Bellerive Oval on a work day, from an international company that had dealings with their department. NOT DECLARED: ● French champagne. ● Thousands of dollars’ worth of gift vouchers. ● Smartphones, tablets, televisions, cameras.
PUBLIC servants are receiving gifts of sporting tickets, international travel, $200 whisky gift packs and thousands of dollars' worth of vouchers in the course of their work.
The state's anti-corruption watchdog is urging the public service to implement a "no gifts" policy following a report that revealed dozens of gifts and benefits that were either not registered or deemed to be inappropriate.
The Integrity Commission report tabled in State Parliament on Tuesday found "systemic failures" across the state service when it came to managing gifts.
The 12-month investigation examined department gift registers and policies and found there was a "lax approach" to hospitality, events and functions.
Tickets to horse racing, movies, music festivals, car racing and AFL matches were commonplace, despite having no connection to employee duties.
It also found French champagne and expensive electrical equipment such as iPads and televisions were not being declared in one department.
Integrity Commission chief executive Diane Merryfull said the report found obvious conflicts of interest, such as a $200 bottle of whisky after a contract was signed.
"Every time a person who is involved in a procurement takes a gift from a supplier, that's obviously a conflict of interest," she said.
"The investigation revealed there was a fundamental problem with the current policy, which in practice allows employees to take gifts provided those gifts are declared."
Ms Merryfull said the policy relied on managers to understand when there was a conflict of interest, but understanding was lacking, and there was "widespread poor decision-making".
Premier Will Hodgman said the report did not suggest any impropriety or exchange of gifts that led to a bias.
"The government trusts its employees to exercise good judgment, supported by training and education and a clear accountability and reporting framework, and believes in a commonsense approach to this issue," he said.
Department of Premier and Cabinet secretary Greg Johannes said a commonsense approach was needed.
"I don't think it's inappropriate for someone to give a paramedic a box of chocolates because they saved their partner's life," he said.
Mr Johannes said the department was acting on all five recommendations of the report, which included amending the definition of "gift" and "benefit", and making gift registers publicly available.
"My own view is that the report is going too far when it suggests taking a cup of coffee from a fellow public servant is inappropriate," he said.
THE GIFTS
APPROVED:
● $3240 worth of gift vouchers from a supplier to procurement staff.
● $199 whisky gift pack to employee from a company to thank them for a contract.
● Lunch for an employee after a meeting about the sale of Crown land.
● Airfares and accommodation to Singapore.
● Tickets for three employees to an all-day cricket match at Bellerive Oval on a work day, from an international company that had dealings with their department.
