Over the past five financial years the number of complaints received by the CCC about the public sector has increased. At the same time, the size of the public sector has grown to keep pace with an expanding population and increasing demand for public services.
Trends in the complaints received by the CCC about the public sector include:
Most complaints received by the CCC about the public sector relate to public service departments, including those with some of the largest workforces that are more likely to have direct interactions with members of the public (such as Queensland Health, the Department of Education and Queensland Corrective Services).
The CCC receives a relatively low number of complaints about Members of Parliament.
Interacting with members of the public, managing confidential information and human resource management are high-risk activities for the public sector. Complaints received by the CCC about the public sector commonly relate to:
- Service delivery, including conduct that occurred during the delivery of services to members of the public such as clients, customers and patients.
- Information control and management, such as the handling and use of confidential information, access to systems and alleged unauthorised or inappropriate release of information.
- Human resource management, which includes supervision and employee relations, payroll, recruitment and selection, and compliance with employment obligations.
- Custodial duties, including conduct which occurred during custodial duties or responsibility for a detainee or prisoner in a custodial or detention facility (such as correctional and youth detention centres).
- Managing public assets and resources, such as accounts processing, building management, procurement, fleet management and grants administration.
- Corruption risks vary based on role and the level of interaction with the community. Public sector employees who work in frontline roles or agencies with a high level of interaction with the public — such as health professionals and education employees — and those who work in high-risk settings such as correctional and youth detention centres, are more vulnerable to allegations of corruption.
- Most complaints about the public sector were received as notifications from agencies (in many cases, the agency the complaint involved). All public sector agencies are required to notify the CCC of suspected corrupt conduct.
- In line with the CCC’s statutory corruption functions, we only investigate or monitor the most serious or systemic cases of corruption. Due to the volume of complaints we receive, and the principles of co-operation, capacity building and devolution, most public sector complaints were referred to the agency to which the complaint relates, to deal with. Any matter referred to an agency to deal with may be monitored by the CCC to ensure transparency and accountability.
- In some circumstances, complaints may be referred to another public integrity agency (such as the Office of the Health Ombudsman or Queensland Ombudsman) instead of the agency to which the complaint relates. Alleged criminal conduct of any state member or employee may be referred to the Queensland Police Service.
Over the past five financial years, the most frequent types of allegations contained in complaints received by the CCC about public sector employees related to the following behaviours:
Allegation | Conduct involves… |
|---|---|
| Misuse of information | Accessing or disclosing official information without a legitimate reason, unintentionally disclosing official information, falsifying information or a record, acquiring or retaining information or records illegally, or inadequately safeguarding information. |
| Misuse of authority | A public sector employee or member of parliament abusing their position to benefit themselves or others, including favouring a family member, friend, associate or benefactor, or furthering their own interests. |
| Failure of duty | Not complying with a legal, policy or reporting obligation or executing duties of their position to an appropriate standard, including failures resulting from a lack of knowledge, competence or appropriate care and diligence. |
| Assault/use excessive force | Assault or using excessive force either with or without a weapon, or threats to assault or use force. |
| Misappropriation or unauthorised use of resources | The unauthorised use, fraudulent diversion, or theft of public funds or property such as dishonestly claiming employee entitlements, fabricating information to support a grant application, or theft of publicly owned property or funds (including government resources such as work time, equipment or facilities). |
Read more about the allegation and activity categories used by the CCC.
