Queensland Government Chief Procurement Office strongly advises that Queensland Government employees involved in any aspect of the procurement process should not accept gifts or benefits.
Gift policy
The Queensland Government has a policy and procedure for the giving and receipt of gifts and benefits by public service employees.
Suppliers and potential suppliers to the Queensland Government should be aware that a public service employee should only accept a gift or benefit if it complies with the principles contained in the policy.
The policy also requires that suppliers are advised of the principles within the policy.
Principles for acceptance of gifts/benefits
A gift or benefit may be accepted only if it complies with all of the following principles:
- It does not influence, or have the potential to influence, an employee in such a way as to compromise or appear to compromise integrity and impartiality or to create a conflict of interest or perception of conflict of interest; and
- It is not related to advice or decisions about (but not limited to):
- granting licences;
- inspecting and regulating businesses;
- giving approvals; and
- The obligation or potential obligation implied in acceptance or giving of gifts or benefits of all values and types has been discussed with the accountable officer; and
- It does not involve time away from official duties at public expense; and
- It is received or given in the course of a public service employee's duty and relates to the work of a public service employee's agency or has a benefit to the Queensland community; and
- It is normal in the donor's or recipient's culture and rejection of or not offering the gift could cause offence - for advice on conformance to international or cultural practice contact the Protocol Unit, Department of the Premier and Cabinet.
Principles for non-acceptance of gifts/benefits
The gift or benefit may not be accepted or given if any of the following principles apply:
- It is intended—or is likely—to cause the recipient or donor to act in a partial manner in the course of their duties; or
- The donor or reasonable observer would apprehend that the recipient may be under obligation to the donor; or
- It is not offered openly; or
- It is an offer of money or anything readily convertible to money—for example, shares.
Gift register
All public service agencies are required to maintain a gift register. For all gifts or benefits with a fair value of $50 or more, the description of the gift, value, name of donor, name of recipient and reason for accepting or declining the gift must be recorded in register.
Gifts and the Festive Season
When Christmas approaches, agencies have an opportunity to remind their suppliers about the Queensland Government's Gifts and
Benefits Policy. Queensland Government Chief Procurement Office sends an annual Gifts Policy Letter for 2006 (Word, 39kb) to all of its suppliers (use this letter as an example to write your agency gift policy letter). It is a
requirement of the Gifts and Benefits Policy that agencies communicate the principles of the Policy to their suppliers and potential
suppliers. Agencies are strongly advised to write to their suppliers to ensure that they are aware of the Government's requirements
on the giving and receiving of gifts.
Last updated July 2009
