DECC statement of business ethics
- Key business principles
- What you can expect from us
- What we ask of you
- Why is compliance important
- Practical guidance notes
Director General's foreword
In the course of carrying out our responsibilities, the Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW (DECC) has dealings with many organisations, including the private sector, other government agencies and non-government organisations. These dealings include purchasing goods and services, contracting out activities that would otherwise have been done by DECC, regulation, and entering into partnerships to undertake particular activities.
DECC is committed to conducting its business affairs on a sound commercial and ethical basis in a manner consistent with NSW Government and DECC policies. Accordingly, DECC expects high standards of ethical behaviour from our employees, contractors, consultants and partners. These expectations are detailed in DECC's Code of Ethical Conduct.
DECC will look to service providers who share our ethical values. We value organisations with a commitment to the highest standards of honesty, integrity and fairness in all of their dealings. In return, organisations can expect that DECC's dealings with them will reflect the same principles.
In addition, DECC is particularly concerned that our employees, contractors, consultants and partners respect the environment and wherever possible encourage sustainable practices in the use of resources and waste management. We look to the organisations we deal with to demonstrate a similar respect and to adopt sustainable practices.
A common understanding of our ethical standards encourages a fair and productive relationship in our business dealings. It also helps to promote and maintain public confidence in DECC's integrity, and trust in the way we do business and spend public monies.
This Statement of Business Ethics provides guidance about DECC's ethical values and what we expect of other organisations when we do business. The ethical standards are not an additional requirement. They are an integral part of sound commercial practice.
LISA CORBYN
Director General
DECC's key business principles
The principle of best value for money is the basis for all of DECC's business relationships with organisations supplying goods and services. Best value for money does not automatically mean the lowest price. DECC will balance all relevant factors, including cost, quality, reliability, sustainability, experience and timeliness in determining true value for money.
Achieving value for money includes ensuring that all our business relationships are honest, ethical, fair and consistent. Our business dealings will be transparent and open to public scrutiny wherever possible.
We are committed to the purchase of all goods and services through established NSW Government contracts systems. In selecting an organisation with which to do business, DECC will place a high weighting on environment protection considerations such as how the organisation will respect the environment in its activities and its sustainable practices in the use of resources and in waste management.
A component of DECC's work involves interaction with Aboriginal people and aspects of this work are contracted out. DECC requires that where, as part of its work with DECC, an organisation interacts with Aboriginal people, that interaction is conducted on the basis of cultural understanding and without discrimination.
What you can expect from us
DECC will ensure that its policies, procedures and practices related to leasing, hiring, tendering, contracting, licensing, sponsorships, commercial partnerships or alliances, and the purchase of goods or services are consistent with best practice, Government policies and the highest standards of ethical conduct. Our staff is bound by DECC's comprehensive Code of Ethical Conduct.
When doing business with an organisation, DECC staff are accountable for their actions and are expected to:
- use public resources effectively and efficiently
- deal fairly, honestly and ethically with all individuals and organisations
- avoid any conflicts of interest (whether real or perceived).
All DECC procurement activities are guided by the following core business principles:
- All potential suppliers will be treated with impartiality and fairness and given equal access to information and opportunities to submit bids
- All procurement activities and decisions will be fully and clearly documented to provide an effective audit trail and to allow for effective scrutiny and performance review of contracts
- Energy-efficient equipment, products with recycled content and environmentally friendly products will be purchased wherever reasonably possible
- Tenders will not be called unless DECC has a firm intention to proceed to contract
- DECC will not improperly disclose confidential or proprietary information.
DECC is committed to the NSW Government Procurement Policy and associated codes of practice.
What we ask of you
We require all providers of goods and services to observe the following principles when doing business with DECC:
- Help DECC to prevent unethical practices in our business relationships
- Comply with DECC's procurement policies and procedures
- Declare actual or perceived conflicts of interest
- Act ethically, fairly and honestly in all dealings with DECC
- Refrain from engaging in collusive practices, including offering DECC employees inducements, gifts or incentives that might appear to be designed to improperly influence their conduct
- Comply with privacy legislation in relation to personal information obtained through your dealings with DECC or work undertaken for DECC
- Take all reasonable steps to prevent disclosure of confidential DECC information
- Refrain from publicly discussing DECC business or information obtained through your involvement with DECC
- Refrain from making comments or statements that would lead anyone to believe that you are representing DECC
- Comply with all the on-site occupational health and safety requirements
- Provide accurate and reliable advice and information
- Deliver quality and value for money
- In dealing with Aboriginal people, act without discrimination and on the basis of informed cultural understanding
- Respect the environment, comply with environmental laws and act sustainably in the use of resources and waste management.
Why is compliance important?
By complying with our Statement of Business Ethics, you will be able to advance your business objectives fairly. It will also prepare your organisation for dealing with the ethical requirements of other public sector agencies, if you choose to do business with them. You should also be aware of the consequences of not complying with DECC's ethical requirements. Demonstrated corrupt or unethical conduct could lead to:
- termination of contracts
- termination of business relationships and partnerships
- loss of future work
- loss of reputation
- investigation for corruption
- referral for criminal investigation
Practical guidance notes
Incentives, gifts, benefits
In general, DECC insists that its staff not accept gifts, benefits, travel or hospitality offered to them during the course of their work. You should not offer such 'incentives' to DECC staff. Any form of gift or benefit offered to DECC employees to influence the way they do work will be reported immediately under DECC policies and procedures. These forms of gifts cannot be kept by staff; they are recorded and either destroyed or passed on to charity, as appropriate. Under no circumstances should cash be offered to DECC employees.
An exception to the above rule are gifts or benefits that are essentially token or constitute moderate acts of hospitality. Gifts of nominal value such as inexpensive pens, notepaper or key rings that are promotional material may be accepted by staff. Meals should only be provided to DECC staff if they are clearly part of a working session and the cost is minimal.
Contracting employees
All contracted and sub-contracted employees are expected to comply with the DECC Statement of Business Ethics. If you employ sub-contractors in your work for DECC, please make them aware of this statement and our expectation that they will abide by it.
Interaction with Aboriginal people
DECC values the contributions of Aboriginal people in the management of natural and cultural heritage and respects the cultural norms of Aboriginal people in consultation and decision-making. All people working with, for or on behalf of DECC are expected to interact with Aboriginal people in accord with this approach. If you are uncertain about how to deal with an issue, ask the DECC officer who organised your contract for advice.
Equal employment opportunity
DECC is committed to equal employment opportunity (EEO) and fair employment practices. When dealing with DECC staff, contractors/consultants need to observe these principles.
Occupational health and safety
DECC is committed to promoting the occupational health of its staff and to preventing all work-related injuries and illness. Contractors/consultants will be informed of relevant safety requirements before entering a site, and are required to comply.
Intellectual property rights
In business relationships with DECC, parties must respect each other's intellectual property rights and formally negotiate any access, licence or use of intellectual property.
Confidentiality
All DECC information should be treated as confidential unless its use and/or disclosure is clearly authorised. If in doubt, ask the DECC officer who organised your contract for advice.
Use of DECC equipment, resources and information
DECC equipment, resources and information should only be used for authorised purposes relating to work for DECC.
Conflicts of interest
All DECC staff are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest. You are also expected to advise DECC of any potential conflict of interest.
Alcohol and drugs
No person should enter the DECC work site or return to work if they are under the influence of alcohol or other drugs that could impair their work or endanger them or others.
Bullying, harassment and discrimination
DECC considers workplace bullying, harassment and discrimination unacceptable. It will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
Secondary and post-separation employment of DECC staff
DECC staff require written approval to accept secondary employment outside the department. Approval depends on whether the job could have an adverse impact on work with DECC and whether any potential issues of conflict of interest can be managed. The Code of Ethical Conduct also asks staff to avoid allowing decisions and actions to be influenced by plans for future employment outside DECC. Similarly, if former DECC staff are employed by an organisation with a business relationship to DECC, they cannot use or disclose confidential or sensitive information acquired while working with DECC.
Opportunities, tenders and contracts
For further information see current tender opportunities and contract guidelines.
DECC has some preferred tenderer policies contained in Section 1 of the department's Procurement Manual. For these and other information on procurement, refer to DECC Procurement Manual.
Breach of DECC's business ethical standards
Any concerns about a possible breach of DECC's business ethical standards or a possible breach by a DECC employee of the Code of Ethical Conduct should be reported to the Manager Corporate Audit and Review, either in writing or by telephone.