Public Sector Commission - Information statement

The Commission is established under the Public Sector Management Act 1994 (PSM Act).

In section 21A of the PSM Act, the Public Sector Commissioner’s functions are to promote the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the public sector, and plan for the sector’s future management and operation.

We also have defined functions under:

• sections of the Corruption, Crime and Misconduct Act 2003 – we work to ensure minor misconduct matters are dealt with appropriately
• the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2003 – we maintain a public interest disclosure officer contact list, set the code of conduct of these officers and provide guidelines for the sector
• the Integrity (Lobbyists) Act 2016 – we manage and publish the Register of Lobbyists and set the code of conduct for lobbyists.

Documents we create or receive in relation to our responsibilities under the Corruption, Crime and Misconduct Act 2003 are exempt from the FOI Act.

Further, the statutory role of Director of Equal Opportunity in Public Employment resides in the Commission and administers Part IX of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984.

Our annual report shows our organisation structure. 

The avenues for public participation in the formulation of our policies and the performance of our functions are limited due to statutory requirements to undertake specific functions independently.

The types of documents we hold are listed below, along with examples of each type. This is not an exhaustive list of all documents so please visit our website to access all publicly available documents.

Corporate information

• Annual reports
• Business Continuity Plan
• Code of Conduct
• Corporate Governance Terms of Reference
• Customer Service Charter
• Delegations Schedule
• Future Enabled: A strategic narrative of professionalism, purpose and pride in the Western Australian public sector
• Privacy Statement
• Reconciliation Action Plan
• Recordkeeping Plan
• Risk Management Policy
• Statement of Business Ethics
• Strategic Plan and Annual Focus 

Policy, legislation, key instruments and frameworks

• Annual report guidelines for public sector agencies 
• Breach of standard claims information
• Commissioner’s Circulars
• Commissioner's Instructions
• Guidelines for reviewing legislation
• Participation in federal and state elections
• Public sector notices
• Public sector officers providing evidence to parliamentary committees
• Public sector standards in human resource management
• Public Sector Reform 2025

Workforce planning, management and culture

• Classifying and Remunerating Positions in the Public Service
• Cultural Considerations in the Workplace
• Customised employment for people with disability
• Director of Equal Opportunity in Public Employment annual reports
• Guide to hiring people with disability
• Guide to hiring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
• Hiring Managers’ Toolkit
• Managing workplace behaviour
• Psychologically Safe and Inclusive Workplaces
• Recruiting for and developing diverse talent
• Structural change management
• Understanding Diverse Sexualities and Genders
• Understanding and using diversity information
• Workplace Adjustments for People with Disability

Public sector recruitment

• Employment programs
• Recruitment Advertising Management System user guides and training materials 
• Recruitment reform guidance for agencies

Conduct and integrity

• Conflicts of Interest Guide
• Developing a Code of Conduct (includes generic sample core content for public sector agencies)
• Developing Code of Conduct Training
• Developing Detection Systems
• Disciplinary investigations under part 5 of the PSM Act – A guide for agencies
• Good Governance for Public Sector Agencies 
• Guide to the disciplinary provisions in Part 5 of the PSM Act
• Integrity Framework Guide and resources (includes Integrity Framework Maturity Self Assessment tool).
• Integrity in financial management: Self assessment checklist
• Integrity promotion resources for agencies (It’s all in a day’s work posters and Code of Conduct SuperCrew posters). 
• Managing the Risks of Gifts, Benefits and Hospitality
• Minor misconduct by public officers
• Post separation employment
• Public interest disclosures (including a register of public interest disclosure officers)

Agency capability

• Agency Capability Framework
• Agency Capability Review Program
• Agency Capability Review reports
• Agency Capability Review executive summaries

Government sector workforce data

• Annual Collection Guidance Notes and Workforce Data Spreadsheet
• 2023 WA Public Sector Census: Sector Insights, quick reference guide, methodology and data quality statement
• Human Resource Minimum Obligatory Information Requirements Data Definitions
• Recruitment Reporting Guidance Notes
• State of the Western Australian Government Sector Workforce reports and statistical bulletins
• Western Australian public sector workforce reports

Learning and development

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural awareness training
• Building Leadership Impact
• Induction to the Western Australian public sector
• Leadership Expectations
• Learning and Development Prospectus
• The Skills Academy

Executive employment and development

• CEO Delivery and Performance Agreement templates and A new approach guidelines
• CEO Statements of personal interests template
• Conflict of interest management plan for chief executive officers template
• Learning and Development Guide for Senior Executive Service Members

Boards and committees

• Governance Manual for Western Australian Government Boards and Committees
• Developing Code of Conduct Training (Generic sample core content for government boards and committees).

Lobbyists

• Register of lobbyists and their clients

Other

• Departments, Responsible Ministers and Portfolios
• Government sector mailing list
• Key Entities of the Western Australian Government
• Public Service Medal guidelines and nomination form

Information related to the performance of our functions, including processes and procedural guides are published on WA.gov.au.

If you would like access to a specific document which is not published online, please telephone our FOI Coordinator on (08) 6552 8871 or email us with your request.

Requesting access to documents

To request access to documents under the FOI Act, your application must: 

• be in writing and specify that the request is made under the FOI Act
• give enough information so requested documents can be identified 
• not form part of a letter or email about another subject
• give an Australian address we can send notices to
• provide a telephone number or email address so we can contact you 
• be lodged with an application fee, if required.

You can create your own application or use our Freedom of Information Application Form. Applications are acknowledged in writing when received.

You have the right to apply for an amendment of any document that contains personal information about you.

All applications must be in writing and need to clearly demonstrate how or why the document is inaccurate, incomplete, out of date or misleading. If we decide to amend the personal information, this is usually be done by altering the documents or adding a note.

You can email us your FOI application, submit it in person or post it to us at:

FOI Coordinator
Public Sector Commission
Dumas House
Level 1, 2 Havelock Street
WEST PERTH  WA  6005

Applications are processed within 45 days unless an extension is agreed.

Under the FOI Act, no application fee or charge applies if you are seeking personal information that is just about you.

An application fee for non-personal information applies and can be made by: 

• our secure online account payment system BPOINT
• our electronic funds transfer to BSB 066-040, Account Number 19400108, Account name Public Sector Commission.

Charges for non-personal applications are discretionary and set out in Schedule 1 of the Freedom of Information Regulations 1993.

Non-personal application fees:

We notify you of our decision as soon as possible but no later than 45 calendar days after receiving your application.

The notification includes:

• the name and position title of the officer who made the decision and the date it was made
• reasons for deleting any matter or refusing access to any matter
• your rights of review and procedures to be followed.

You may appeal a decision made by us for access or amendment to documents through an internal and external review process. No fees or charges apply.

Internal review applications must be in writing to us within 30 calendar days after the date of the written notice of decision.

If you are not satisfied with the outcome of our internal review, you may apply to the Information Commissioner for an external review. An application for external review must be lodged by you within 60 days of receiving written notice of the decision. In certain instances, questions of law that arise may be referred to the Supreme Court.