The Code of Conduct for the Public Sector: Information for Public Sector organisations

The Code sets standards of integrity and conduct for public servants and the public sector organisations they work in, providing a shared foundation and commitment to integrity. It encourages ethical behaviour and decision-making, while fostering a culture centred on a spirit of service, integrity and transparency. This is intended to maintain and strengthen the trust and confidence of the Government and the public in our ability to perform our roles efficiently and effectively, with the highest standards of integrity. 

The Code took effect on 30 March 2026. The Standards of Integrity and Conduct have now been replaced by the Code.

Standards of Integrity and Conduct(PDF, 2.1 MB)

The Code contains: 

• standards of integrity and conduct that apply to the ‘Public Sector’ (defined in the Code) and the public servants working there.  

• guidance related to those standards, to: 
  • support understanding and compliance 
  • clearly outline roles and responsibilities of public servants and organisational leaders in the Public Sector, what may be a breach of the Code and how to speak up to raise concerns about possible wrongdoing.  

The standards are grouped around the public service values and principles and together they form the framework for how we work. 

The values and principles point us in the right direction. The standards show the specific behaviours required to uphold the values and principles.

The Code applies to the Public Sector organisations it is issued to. Generally, these are:

1. Public service agencies (departments, departmental agencies, interdepartmental executive boards, interdepartmental ventures) and Crown agents
2. Crown entities (other than Crown agents and excluding tertiary education institutions and school boards or trustees, and Crown Research Institutes and their subsidiaries)
3. Companies named in Schedule 4A of the Public Finance Act 1989, and
4. the Parliamentary Counsel Office.

Organisations the Code is issued to are asked to think about whether the Code should extend – in full or in part – to others who work with or for them. This could include volunteers, contracted service providers, or Crown entity subsidiaries if their parent entity decides to issue the Code to them.

A list of the organisations under each of the categories above is on our website.

Central government organisations

The Code is issued by the Public Service Commissioner to relevant Public Sector organisations. If you work in one of those organisations, you will be advised by your organisation/employer that the Code applies to you and your related compliance expectations. 

Updating the Code does not change the general expectation that public servants abide by the Code. Everyone who the Code applies to will need to understand, and uphold the Code, just as they did with the previous Standards of Integrity and Conduct.

There is a new requirement for all public servants to complete the required learning resources within Integrity Essentials on the Code and General Election. See further FAQs on the learning below.

Integrity Essentials – Leadership Development Centre

Public Sector organisations may apply additional or detailed standards to their organisation that are consistent with the Code.

Some organisations may choose to adopt the Code outright, while others may choose to adapt it to their own organisational context in a way that is consistent with the Code, for example, through an organisation code of conduct.  

The Code does not replace your organisation’s code, however, organisation’s codes should be consistent with the Code.

Public Sector organisations implement the Code by having policies and procedures consistent with it. This means either adopting the Code outright or adapting it to their own organisational context in a way that is consistent with the Code. Each organisation is encouraged to promote awareness of the Code and the behavioural expectations that flow from it. 

The Code’s implementation is supported by our Speaking Up model standards. Speaking Up requires organisations to have mechanisms that enable public servants to confidentially speak up about possible wrongdoing in their workplace, while keeping them safe from reprisals or other detrimental impacts.

Model standards: Speaking up in the public sector

At minimum, organisations should make all staff aware that the Code applies to them when it takes effect from 30 March 2026. They should also enable public servants to complete the required learning on the Code and General Elections.

Public Sector organisations should have received the implementation survey link, to be completed by 1 June 2026. Please use the survey to advise of any challenges with implementation, alongside your planned activity. We anticipate most implementation activity will be underway or complete ahead of the General Election 2026.

No, unless your organisation chooses to make this a requirement as part of your policies and procedures. We do not require this to be reported back to us. 

Integrity Essentials learning resources are available through the Leadership Development Centre’s Public Service Core Learning Hub.

It includes the 2 required learning resources 'Navigating the Code' and 'Getting Election Ready'. We have asked relevant organisations to start this as soon as possible and to complete before the general election.

This learning is available directly on the Integrity Essentials page of the LDC website. Organisations may direct staff to this page or host this learning on their own learning management system.

The required learning is supplemented by comprehensive learning resources on key integrity related topics. More resources will be made available across 2026.

Integrity Essentials – Leadership Development Centre

The Integrity Essentials required learning has been developed to provide a consistent baseline learning for all public servants on both the Code and General Elections. Organisations are welcome to supplement this baseline learning with context-specific learning relevant to their organisation.

This is up to organisations, but would likely be a great opportunity to do so. 

The Code doesn’t change how your organisation must operate under legislation and the Code clarifies that where there is a conflict, legislation prevails. 

The Code applies across a broad range of Public Sector organisations and public servant roles. This may mean that some of the standards are more relevant to some organisations and roles than to others. The Code recognises this and asks that where any of the standards may have limited relevance, we still need to consider how they may apply. A pragmatic approach to application and compliance should be taken, considering your organisation’s context.   

Yes. The 'Abiding by our Code' section outlines what may happen if the Code is breached and how concerns should be raised. It covers:

• what counts as a breach of the Code
• how people can speak up if they have a concern
• the responsibilities of leaders and others to respond appropriately to concerns and support people to speak up, and
• the need for organisational policies and procedures that are consistent with the Code, which would include those for managing concerns or alleged breaches.

Read the 'Abiding by our Code' section on our website.

Code of Conduct for the Public Sector – Abiding by our Code

In 2022 and 2023 we completed extensive engagement with Public Sector organisations and other key stakeholders such as academics and unions. Alongside research, insights from these engagements have informed the Code's development. 

In 2025 we refreshed this work to build on what we’ve done so far, engaging key stakeholders before opening consultation on a draft Code. As part of our consultation, we invited feedback from all organisations the Code will apply to. Some further targeted engagement also occurred with unions and academics. Consultation was openly accessible to the public on our website. 

Following consultation, we analysed feedback received and revised the Code as appropriate, based on what we heard. 

We ran a consultation on the draft Code from 2 September to 17 October 2025.   

The draft Code of Conduct that was consulted on can be found here alongside a summary of feedback received and how we addressed that through the Code: 

Draft Code of Conduct for consultation(PDF, 304 KB)

Consultation on the draft Code: Summary and submissions analysis(PDF, 166 KB)

How previous standards are reflected in the Code of Conduct for the Public Sector(PDF, 132 KB)