Been
putting the weights on your contractor for some tickets to the
footy or entry to a box at the Prime Minister’s XI cricket
recently?
If so, you might be: annoying your contractor; or chasing a perquisite
which would put you in breach of Defence’s Code of Conduct
detailed in Defence and Industry - an Ethical Relationship or
displaying unethical and unprofessional conduct and providing
a bad example to others.
The Inspector-General, Claude Neumann, says the Department has
recently received complaints about Defence members soliciting
tickets to supporting events and about senior leaders accepting
invitations to corporate boxes at events.
“The Code of Conduct with Industry says, among other things,
that for its part Defence requires its employees not to solicit
or accept remuneration or any other benefit from organisations
seeking or having an official relationship with Defence,”
he said.
“Likewise, suppliers to Defence are expected not to accept
solicitations from, or make offers to, Defence employees of financial
or other benefits.
“Irrespective of the particular area of Defence a supplier
might have a commercial association with, it is inappropriate
for any Defence members to solicit or accept benefits such as
tickets to sporting events from the supplier.
“Any offers of sporting tickets or other similar benefits
should be politely declined.
“The aim of these measures is to ensure that decision-making
in Defence is demonstrably not influenced by the receipt of personal
gifts or hospitality, and that Defence suppliers are not pressured
to offer such favours.”
