Procedures for determining suspected breaches of the code of conduct

The Australian Public Service (APS) Code of Conduct (the Code) sets out the behavioural standards expected of APS employees. The Code is set out in section 13 of the Public Service (PS) Act 1999. The PS Act, the Public Service Regulations 1999 and the APS Commissioner’s Directions 2022 provide a framework for managing the conduct of employees.

The PS Act requires the head of each agency to establish procedures for determining whether an employee has breached the Code and what sanction, if any, is to be imposed if a breach is found.