On 2nd September 2013 The Hon Justice Bruce Lander QC officially commenced as South Australia’s inaugural Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) following his resignation from the Federal Court of Australia. The role of the Commissioner is to identify and investigate corruption in public administration, and prevent or minimise corruption, misconduct and maladministration in public administration.
The Office for Public Integrity (OPI) is responsible to the Commissioner and is the central point of contact to receive and assess complaints and reports about corruption, misconduct and maladministration in public administration.
In collaboration with The Office for Public Integrity and Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Public Integrity Reform Project the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) are scheduling a presentation and panel event titled Public Integrity Reform – Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) on the 19th September.
The event will be opened by the Hon John Rau, Deputy Premier and Attorney-General, with the key note speaker being the Commissioner and other presenters include the Deputy Commissioner of Police and the Ombudsman. There will be an interactive panel discussion consisting of the presenters and the Police Ombudsman and other public sector officials, during which the audience will also have the opportunity to direct questions to the panel. The event will explain the role of the Commissioner, the role of the OPI and how these will interact with other inquiry agencies i.e. the Ombudsman, Police Ombudsman, Commissioner for Public Sector Employment and SA’s law enforcement agency, SAPOL.
For further information on ICAC and to locate the recently released Directions and Guidelines for Inquiry Agencies, Public Authorities and Public Officers visit www.icac.sa.gov.au
Did You Know? Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (SA) (WHS Act) an ‘Officer’ includes a person who makes or participates in making decisions that affect the whole or a substantial part of a public authority. This will most commonly include the position of Chief Executive Officer but may also include Executives and Managers from the SAES and Feeder Group. Whether you would be considered an ‘Officer’ as deemed under the WHS Act depends on a number of factors such as seniority, delegations, financial sign-off and reporting structures.
Why is this important for your department? The new WHS Act imposes greater responsibilities and legal requirements on you as an Executive, particularly if you are an ‘Officer’. This is because the WHS act requires ‘Officers’ to exercise ‘due diligence’ to ensure that the health and safety duties of the person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) are being met.
Why is this important for you? ‘Officers’ can be held personally responsible for contraventions of WHS laws. An ‘Officer’ has a duty to exercise due diligence to ensure a PCBU meets its health and safety obligations. This duty cannot be delegated and failure to comply is a criminal offence, which can carry severe penalties.
The Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA SA), with the support of SafeWork SA, have designed a forum exclusively for Public Sector Executives who are likely to be considered an ‘Officer’ under the WHS Act.
The forum will provide a concise overview of the new WHS legislation and will include a discussion of the general safety principles (many of which are not new) along with a discussion of key changes. We will discuss how you can determine whether you are an ‘Officer’ for the purposes of the WHS Act and, if you are, what you can do to ensure you meet your obligations.
Topics to be covered include:
You may have already attended a WHS workshop, however, this forum is different as it will have a strong practical focus specifically on the elements that matter to Public Sector Executives. It will focus on your obligations as an individual and how you can meet those obligations with non-onerous guidelines.
This forum will be facilitated by Michael Kay, a specialist Employment/WHS Lawyer plus you will have the opportunity to direct your questions in a Q&A panel session involving:
The State Procurement Board was proud to present the SA Government Procurement Forum- ICAC and the OIA: What do they mean for Procurement? The introduction of the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) and the Office of the Industry Advocate (OIA) will shape the landscape of procurement within the SA Government. What does this mean for you and your agency? What do you need to know about these important Government initiatives and how will you need to prepare yourselves?
With presentations from:
followed by a panel session where participants had the opportunity to ask questions of the speakers.
The MC for the forum was Judith Carr, Executive Director, Building Management, Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI).
Program:
8:45 Registration (coffee/tea, networking)
9:30 Overview and welcome by Judith Carr MC and introduction of Chris Oerman
9:35 Chris Oerman, State Procurement Board presentation/overview
9:55 The Hon. Bruce Lander QC -ICAC
10:40 Ian Nightingale – Industry Participant Advocate
11:05 Panel consisting of above facilitated by MC – Q&A from audience
11:25 Final comments by MC
11:30 Concludes
As Premier of South Australia, Don Dunstan set new directions for public administration that had far-reaching national impacts. Shortly before his death in 1998, Don Dunstan entrusted to the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA), the key advocate for effective public administration, the honour of carriage of the annual Don Dunstan Oration on Public Administration, and was in fact its first Orator.
Raymond Spencer is head of the SA Government’s leading economic advisory board and he will present this year’s Don Dunstan Oration on the future of culture and performance in the South Australian Public Sector.
Raymond has been a key figure in the establishment of the Public Sector Renewal Program. The Program aims to provide the South Australian Public Sector with the knowledge and change management tools needed to deliver better outcomes in economic, social and environmental policy; it is about embracing a culture of innovation, community empowerment, and sustainability. The Program is central to realising the policy ambitions of the Government and it will be rolled out across all major agencies during 2013.
Raymond will share with attendees his views on the future of the South Australian public sector, the fundamental thinking behind the Public Sector Renewal Program, and the critical role that each public servant will play in building a revitalised and empowered working culture.
Erma Ranieri is the Deputy Chief Executive of Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy (DIMTRE) and Chief Executive of the Public Sector Renewal Program, and has been appointed by Premier Jay Weatherill to lead the Taskforce for the Public Sector Renewal Program and will be the Master of Ceremonies for this Oration.
Don’t miss the opportunity to hear this inspirational and influential speaker in the keynote address for IPAA SA’s 2012 season. A networking session including drinks and finger food will follow.
As Premier of South Australia, Don Dunstan set new directions for public administration that had far-reaching national impacts. Shortly before his death in 1998, Don Dunstan entrusted to the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA), the key advocate for effective public administration, the honour of carriage of the annual Don Dunstan Oration on Public Administration, and was in fact its first Orator.
Raymond Spencer is head of the SA Government’s leading economic advisory board and he will present this year’s Don Dunstan Oration on the future of culture and performance in the South Australian Public Sector.
Raymond has been a key figure in the establishment of the Public Sector Renewal Program. The Program aims to provide the South Australian Public Sector with the knowledge and change management tools needed to deliver better outcomes in economic, social and environmental policy; it is about embracing a culture of innovation, community empowerment, and sustainability. The Program is central to realising the policy ambitions of the Government and it will be rolled out across all major agencies during 2013.
Raymond will share with attendees his views on the future of the South Australian public sector, the fundamental thinking behind the Public Sector Renewal Program, and the critical role that each public servant will play in building a revitalised and empowered working culture.
Erma Ranieri is the Deputy Chief Executive of Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy (DIMTRE) and Chief Executive of the Public Sector Renewal Program, and has been appointed by Premier Jay Weatherill to lead the Taskforce for the Public Sector Renewal Program and will be the Master of Ceremonies for this Oration.
Don’t miss the opportunity to hear this inspirational and influential speaker in the keynote address for IPAA SA’s 2012 season. A networking session including drinks and finger food will follow.
