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Defending Australia and its National Interests
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Minister |
Navy |
Army |
Air Force |
Department
Defending Australia and its National Interests
Intelligence and SecurityLiving by the codeIf you are a member of the Australian Public Service (APS) then these two words should ring some bells. More than just words, honesty and integrity constitute values that APS employees are legally required to adhere to as part of the APS Code of Conduct (Public Service Act 1999, Section 13 (1)). They are certainly best kept at the forefront of your mind if you're applying for security clearances. When applying for a security clearance, you are required to provide honest and accurate information about yourself. The consequences for providing false and/or misleading information could see you end up in hot water. Well, maybe not hot water exactly, but it could have serious repercussions - including disciplinary action. Such was the recent case of an ongoing APS employee, who was working at the Executive Level within a Commonwealth agency (not Defence), in a position that required a 'Top Secret' security clearance. The employee was granted clearance after an initial security clearance interview. However, they were placed on an 'after care' program, which required regular review of their fitness to hold a clearance. Concerns were raised about the employees behaviour, namely the content and volume of personal emails sent by the employee. Following a Code of Conduct investigation, their employment was suspended and security clearance reviewed. The review raised doubts about the accuracy of information that had been provided by the employee, during both their initial and 'after care' security clearance interviews. The Commonwealth agency determined that the employee had breached the APS Code of Conduct and employment was terminated. The employee appealed to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) who agreed with the agency's determination to terminate employment for:
The AIRC judgement concluded, ". the applicant committed what I consider the worst breach of the Code of Conduct at the very commencement of [their] EL1 employment when [they] provided false and misleading information as part of [their] security interview. "The applicant should have realised the importance that would be placed on values such as honesty and integrity". In this case the employee seemed not to have fully understood the importance of upholding such values as honesty and integrity during the course of employment with the Government. By not upholding these values, a serious breach of the APS Code of Conduct occurred and the employee lost their job - the ultimate price to pay for failing to operate within the Code of Conduct. Blessed are those who can recite the APS Code of Conduct, but those blessed are few. Nonetheless it would pay for each of us to remember these key words - honesty and integrity - and apply their meaning to our behaviour and actions at all times throughout our employment with the Defence, including when providing information for security clearances! More information please contact the Defence Security Authority [ top of page ] |
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