Free and frank advice is about organisations providing advice to Ministers without fear or favour, using our best professional judgement.
Te paerewa The standard
Providing free and frank advice
Free and frank advice supports Ministers to make good decisions and gives the public confidence that those decisions are well informed. Our organisational leaders are responsible for ensuring that free and frank advice is given to Ministers by their organisations.
Providing free and frank advice is about focusing on our Minister’s objectives while being honest, politically neutral, free from undue influence, and constructive about the best ways to achieve their objectives. This may mean we need to respectfully and professionally challenge our Minister’s understanding or initial preference. We aim to include a range of perspectives in our advice, canvassing options and informing Ministers about the pros, cons, uncertainties and consequences of the decisions they are being asked to make.
If our job involves providing advice directly or indirectly to Ministers, we need to be mindful of context, including demonstrating awareness of, and responsiveness to, the priorities of the government of the day. Free and frank advice means that we provide the relevant information, evidence and analysis needed to deliver clear, objective and effective advice. We take a ‘no surprises’ [2] approach by promptly advising on significant matters within our Minister’s portfolio responsibilities, particularly where those may be controversial or may become the subject of public debate.
[2] See: Solicitor-General’s Guidance (2023) Chief Executives and the ‘No Surprises’ Principle; The Cabinet Manual (2023) also outlines requirements under the ‘no surprises’ principle.
Solicitor-General's Guidance: Chief Executives and the ‘No Surprises’ Principle – Crown Law
Cabinet Manual – Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet