The Crime and Misconduct Commission will visit Rockhampton next week to host free seminars for public servants to equip them with an understanding of public sector ethics, skills to strengthen integrity and reduce misconduct in their workplace.
CMC Director of Complaints Services Helen Couper said that during the two days, attendees would be given first-hand experience identifying and preventing conflicts of interest as well as how to deal with complaints of misconduct.
‘Corruption often begins simply with a conflict of interest that’s not declared or managed effectively,’ she said.
‘Agencies in regional and rural areas, including councils, often face the potential for conflicts of interest leading to corruption if not properly managed, due to the size of their communities.
‘Problems may arise due to people having dual roles within the community or because of close personal relationships with others in the region.
‘In a bid to prevent such problems, we strongly believe that prevention is better than cure. Part of the CMC’s responsibility is to equip public agencies with information and resources to enhance their ability to prevent corruption.
‘It’s vital that managers take responsibility for the culture and behaviour of their staff. The CMC has a role to support managers in that responsibility and ultimately promote confidence in Queensland’s public sector.
‘The seminars offer clear guidelines on how to identify, investigate or manage complaints through case studies, practical tips and step-by-step instructions.’
To find out what is of concern to other stakeholders, CMC staff will also meet with various local government councils and Indigenous agencies.
The CMC’s visit is part of an ongoing education program, with trips to Toowoomba, Warwick, the Cape York region and Cairns planned for later this year.
The seminars will be held on 26 and 27 May at the Department of Primary Industries’ conference centre, Yeppoon Road (cnr Bruce Highway), Rockampton.
Ms Couper will be available for media interviews.
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