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The Forum > Article Comments > Absence of ethics in the public service > Comments

Absence of ethics in the public service : Comments

By Noel Preston, published 21/7/2005

Noel Preston argues there are legitimate concerns about integrity in the public service.

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Noel Preston says: "There are signs that grievances are bubbling up all over the place, while complaints procedures are too often subverted."

This is countered by appearances. The Courier Mail in Queensland has a column "SOLVED - The Red Tape Busters". This is the kind of media that gives people the idea that if you follow a procedure you will get a just outcome. The problems addressed in the column aren't actually solved advice is given on how to solve them. It gives the impression that a hand full of successes is representative. Given recent events in Queensland, it is clear that all you get in most cases at all levels from the backyard dispute to enquiries into hospital deaths is stonewalling and muck about. Police Department burueacracy is one area that an independent body needs to take a good, long hard look. Don't believe police websites, I think, it is all words and pretence. CMC and police ethics committees are earning a reputation as arse-covering exercises.
Posted by rancitas, Thursday, 21 July 2005 11:43:23 AM
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Could one of the main reason for the lack of ethics in the Federal public service be that howard has politicised the once fine service.As he has done to our once independent armed services, not forgetting the office of the G/G which has been politicised also by arrogant howard taking over the G/Gs duties and resposibilities on many occasions.All this flies in the face of the Westminister system of government that Australia once had. As said by Noel Preston howard has also openly and publicly rewarded perceived incompetence by the head of a department. This has sent a very visible message to the public service in general- "be loyal to me not the Australian people and follow liberal policies and you too could be rewarded" By the way look at the way incompetence and uselessness in the ministry is rewarded by a very well paid overseas appointment - yes again by the master politician. numbat
Posted by numbat, Thursday, 21 July 2005 11:52:54 AM
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We should note that Queensland is often cited as a desireable model political system; one without an upper house (review chamber) of any sort.

While second chambers do not necessarily quarantee better politics, they do sometimes provide another entry point for the exposure (and sometimes the redress) of grievances and poor performance. Although the Senate has exposed some pretty dubious practices, its relevance has been downplayed of late to the extent that the kind of investigative work in children overboard for example is now most unlikely to occur, a state of affairs which understandably suits the Liberals, but also ironically the Labor Party.
Posted by B. A., Thursday, 21 July 2005 12:24:07 PM
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It's an important issue Noel.
The core factor is missing in the discussion. That's not your fault, Noel; it's missing in all public discussions of the ethics of serving the public.
You end with a quote from Dag Hammarsjold: "Only they deserve power who justify its use daily."
This reveals a serious misperception - that public service is power. Sadly, public service is power; but it should be responsibility.
And the missing core factor is: accountability.
Public servants should be accountable to the people they serve.
This principle should apply to elected representatives as well as employees of public institutions.
Just think of the level of accountability of elected representatives - one day every 3 or 4 years. They are accountable less that 0.1% of the time!
No wonder corruption in public life runs so very very deep!
Posted by Ernest, Friday, 22 July 2005 5:59:14 AM
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We need more than ethics which the charts for the ship. We need ethos which is more. It is the compass.
This ehthos has to be infused into the system and until the vacuum of leadership is replaced by visionary, ethically-grounded politicians and senior administrators this will never happen.

What system ever seeks accountablity, transparency, and morality, as well as the encouragement of what we strangely called "whistle blowers" (someone brave enough to stand outside the herd)? The very nature of politics, promotion in the "public service" (oxymoron) is based on different paradigms. We therefore get what we deserve perhaps.

I no longer believe in the Tooth Fairy and although I know there are wise leaders out there, there are few on the ground. Commercial and "political" interests usually dominate everything done in the name of the public. Firefighting like in the Morris Enquiry, and expensive Royal Commissions is too often the proxy for sound, wise and responsive government/governance. Let's move the deck chairs around again, change the letterhead and the logo and pretend it's all different.
Posted by Odysseus, Friday, 22 July 2005 6:58:21 AM
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It is interesting to note that the only instances of actions for "apprehended bias' to make it into the media in recent years have been initiated by bureaucrats and elected officials seeking to shut down legitimate inquiries into matters that are likely to produce a finding of gross negligence contributing to the death of persons.

The first action was funded by the ACT government to shut down the coronial inquiry into the ACT fires that was paying very close attention to the actions and inaction of the ACT Chief Minister et al. The second was brought by Qld Health officials who continually failed to take any action in respect of reports on the competency of "Dr Death".

This is symptomatic of the entire public service culture where "rights" are the tools available for their own kind to either pursue their objectives or protect their own interests. The public, in their eyes, have no rights. They are merely the holders of concessionary privileges that prevail until such time that the governing tribe may need to call them in.

I have been ripped off, scammed, stooged and pimped at in four languages and five continents but I have never seen a larger, more concentrated gathering of fleshcrawling spivs than one would routinely find in any gathering departmental policy officers.

They do not serve. Our need is merely their franchise.
Posted by Perseus, Friday, 22 July 2005 11:16:19 AM
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