Ministerial Code of Conduct

Fact sheet
Direction to ministers regarding behaviour and community expectations.
Last updated:

A Ministerial Code of Conduct was developed as a result of the 1992 Royal Commission into Commercial Activities of Government.

The Royal Commission was held in response to widespread public concern about the conduct and accountability of public officials.

In the spirit of the findings of the Royal Commission, the primary intention of this code is to provide direction to ministers about the conduct that members of the community expect of them and to which they should aspire.

It includes subjects such as:

  • official conduct
  • conflicts of interest
  • disclosure of pecuniary and other interests
  • divestment of conflicting positions 
  • ministerial expenses
  • gifts.