Those working in public administration play an important role in ensuring that inappropriate conduct is reported and properly addressed.

While all instances of impropriety should be dealt with in the appropriate forum, public officers, public authorities and inquiry agencies are subject to specific reporting obligations when it comes to matters involving alleged corruption, misconduct and maladministration in public administration.

Reporting corruption in public administration

The directions and guidelines prepared by the Director of the Office for Public Integrity require all public officers, public authorities and inquiry agencies, with some exceptions, to report to the Office any matter they reasonably suspect involves corruption in public administration.

Corruption involves certain criminal offences, including:

  • Bribery or corruption of public officers
  • Threats or reprisals against public officers
  • Abuse of public office
  • Offences relating to appointment to public office
  • Offences against the Public Sector (Honesty and Accountability Act) 1995, the Public Corporations Act 1993 and the Lobbyists Act 2015

Reporting misconduct and maladministration in public administration

The Ombudsman’s directions and guidelines encourage all public officers and public authorities to report to the Ombudsman any matter they reasonably suspect involves misconduct or maladministration in public administration, again with some exceptions.

Misconduct involves a public officer, while acting in their capacity as a public officer, intentionally and seriously breaching the code of conduct by which they are bound.

Maladministration involves the mismanagement of public money, resources or functions and is often the product of poor governance or negligence.

Reporting other impropriety in public administration

It is important that improper conduct which falls short of raising a potential issue of corruption, misconduct or maladministration in public administration is still raised and addressed through appropriate channels.  This may involve reporting and managing the matter internally, or referring it to another authority.

Public officers should be aware of the obligations which arise under any code of conduct or behavioural standards which apply to them.

Many public officers are subject to the Code of Ethics for the South Australian Public Sector, which outlines the professional standards expected of all public sector employees.

The Code requires public sector employees to report certain workplace behaviour to an appropriate authority, including behaviour which might be unlawful or which poses a danger to public health and safety or to the environment.  A public sector employee who fails to comply with that requirement may be liable to disciplinary action.

Other codes of conduct or behavioural standards apply to certain categories of public officer, including Ministers, members of SA Police and local government staff and elected members. Those codes and regulations can be found here.