The Shire is committed to ensuring everyone at the Shire operates with the highest level of integrity and accountability.
The Shire's overall approach to integrity is set out in the Integrity Framework. This framework will better equip the Shire to identify integrity risks, including fraud, and reinforce a culture of integrity with clear expectations, roles, and responsibilities.
Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale Integrity Framework
The Public Sector Management Act 1994 requires all public sector bodies (which includes local governments) to have an integrity framework that meets the following minimum requirements:
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clear expectations of employees/board members in relation to integrity
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roles and responsibilities under the framework
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management of integrity based on identified risks
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development of integrity knowledge, skills and competencies of employees and board members
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reinforcement of a culture built on integrity
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review and updating of the framework
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assurance to the head of the public sector body that the framework is working as intended.
The Framework supports the Shire's Council Plan pillars of Thriving, Liveable, and Connected and is closely aligned with the Shire values of Accountability, Collaboration, and Trust. This emphasises the expectation that integrity is a priority and important across all directorates and throughout the entire organisation.
The Framework assigns roles and responsibilities to promote co-operation and avoid overlaps and fragmentation. Responsibilities include developing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating integrity standards and tools. These are assigned to various positions within the Shire, including the Chief Executive Officer, Elected Members, the executive management group, employees, and the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee.
The Framework also clearly sets out the Shire's internal controls to minimise integrity risks, as well as how the Shire detects fraud and corruption.