The Australian Public Service (APS) is established by the Public Service Act 1999. It is one part of the wider Commonwealth public sector and consists of agency heads and APS employees engaged under the Act. The APS operates largely under principles-based frameworks, including that established by the PS Act, which impose high expectations regarding integrity.

The Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 establishes the overarching governance, performance and accountability framework for resource use and management within the Commonwealth public sector as a whole, including all members of the APS. It is a principles-based framework that imposes high expectations on the sector, including ‘high standards of governance, performance and accountability’.

There is ongoing parliamentary interest in APS integrity, probity and ethics, including by the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (JCPAA), which in June 2023 adopted an inquiry into probity and ethics in the Australian public sector. This audit provides independent assurance and reporting to the Parliament on the APSC’s administration of statutory functions relating to upholding high standards of integrity and ethical conduct in the APS.

The audit objective was to assess the effectiveness of the APSC’s administration of statutory functions relating to upholding high standards of integrity and ethical conduct in the APS.

Key findings:

• The APSC was partly effective in its administration of statutory functions relating to upholding high standards of integrity and ethical conduct in the APS during the audit review period (July 2022 to December 2023). The APSC’s approach was largely activity-driven and it did not have relevant strategies, linked to measurable outcomes, to guide its efforts. As a consequence, the APSC could not demonstrate or provide assurance on whether its activities relating to integrity functions were well directed or fully effective.
• The APSC was partly effective in promoting the APS Values and Code of Conduct and in providing advice and assistance to APS agencies on public service matters. The APSC did not have a strategy, linked to outcomes which can be measured, for promoting the APS Values and Code of Conduct and its approach to this function was largely activity-driven.
• The APSC provided or administered guidance, support and training/event offerings intended to promote the APS Values and Code of Conduct. While the APSC communicated integrity and ethical requirements and expectations through these activities, they were not guided by a risk-based strategy.