Managing Conflict of Interest - Organisation for Economic Co ...

154 Managing Conflict of InterestAgency Procedures and PracticesAgency heads are responsible for determining what actionshould be taken where there is a conflict of interest. Agencies usethe Commission’s guidance to develop their own internal policiesand practices for managing real or potential or perceived conflictsof interest. Agencies’ procedures outline how conflicts are identifiedand managed, and how stakeholders are informed. Proceduresspecify employees’ responsibilities to declare real or apparent conflictsof interest and clarify managers’ responsibilities in dealing withconflicts of interest. Agency practices include:• Annual completion of declarations of financial and otherrelated interests (agency heads and senior executive staff);• Deliberate consideration of real or possible conflicts ofinterest in work planning and performance appraisaldiscussions;• Awareness-raising sessions conducted during employeeinduction;• Specific training conducted in relation to the APS Valuesand Code of Conduct; and• Consideration of possible conflicts of interest and managementresponsibilities in leadership development courses.APS agencies take seriously employees’ failure to appropriatelymanage conflicts of interest and, where breaches of the Codeof Conduct are found, agency heads sanction the employeesinvolved.The Australian ExperienceLevels of MisconductLevels of misconduct are very low in the APS. Of 146,000 employees,only 1% (1,490) were investigated for breaches of the Codeof Conduct in 2005–2006. Of all employees investigated, just overthree quarters were found to have breached the Code. 7 Bearing inmind that employees may be investigated simultaneously for more7Statistical information has been culled from Australian Public Service Commission.2006. State of Service Report, 2005–2006.ADB/OECD Anti-Corruption Initiative for Asia and the Pacific