What do government agencies ask public servants to do with gifts?

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The department's policy on accepting gifts and benefits is consistent with the APS values and code of conduct.

Regardless of the value of a gift, department staff are required to exercise balanced judgement and common sense when considering whether it is appropriate to accept a gift or benefit, taking into account the expectations of stakeholders and whether or not accepting the gift could be perceived as a conflict of interest.

Gifts valued at more than $50 must be disclosed to a staff member's manager and SES officer.

Details and decisions relating to gifts are recorded in a register of benefits, which is not publicly available.

1. There is no requirement to declare offers or acceptances of:

All other gifts must be disclosed. The type of disclosure depends on whether the value of the gift is $200 or more.

2. For all offers of more than $200, employees must submit a declaration form, whether the offer is accepted or declined. For all offers of $200 or less, an employee needs to advise their manager, they do not need to submit a declaration form.

3. The ATO is committed to a sensible and accountable process with integrity for offers or acceptances of gifts, hospitality or other benefits. The ATO maintains an internal gifts register. Assurance of gifts, hospitality and other benefits is undertaken and reported internally on a quarterly basis.

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1. All staff of the department must notify their manager if they receive a gift in the course of their work.

2. Written approval of a supervisor is required if a staff member wishes to retain a gift or benefit valued at up to $100, or an SES officer if the gift or benefit is valued in excess of $100.

3. In accordance with the department's record-keeping policy, supporting documentation in relation to the disclosure of a gift must be kept on record. Disclosures are not publicly available.

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1. It is standard practice that officials must declare all gifts, irrespective of the value.

2. Gifts up to the value of $100 must be declared to the official's relevant manager and can be retained. For gifts above the value of $100, these must be declared to the divisional finance manager and head of division approval is required for retention.

3. The department's gift register is not publicly accessible. Any requests for access would be considered in line with the FOI Act.

1. In accordance with the department's "receiving and giving gifts policy", items offered or received as gifts must be disclosed, irrespective of value.

2. Officials must disclose items offered or received as gifts to their SES manager. All offers to, and acceptance of gifts by, SES officials must be disclosed to their immediate supervisor.

3. Gift registers are maintained by each group and state office and are not publicly available.

The department has strict procedures in place in relation to gifts. These are set out in the department's conduct and ethics manual and are in line with the Public Service Act and other relevant legislation.

As a general rule, departmental staff should, wherever possible, not accept gifts or benefits. Where no conflict of interest could reasonably be inferred from accepting a gift, or where refusing a gift could cause offence, gifts may be accepted under certain circumstances. Bona fide gifts from friends and family or items of little or no commercial value are termed non-disclosable gifts, and may be accepted without reporting.

All other gifts must be reported regardless of value. Disclosable gifts are reported to a range of designated approvers at senior levels throughout the department, including in the department's overseas missions.

Gift records are decentralised. They are maintained in divisions and missions across the department's over 100 locations in Australia and abroad. There is, therefore, no centralised or publicly available gift register.

1. Any gift or benefit received by the department exceeding $100 must be recorded.

2. Staff should seek approval in advance from their unit head (EL2) or, in the case of SES officers, their immediate supervisor for gifts or benefits valued between $50 and $200. Where a gift or benefit is accepted without prior approval, it must be declared at the earliest possible time. Gifts valued at $200 or more are handed to the department for display or disposal.

3. There is no requirement to record inconsequential or incidental gifts or benefits. All other gifts or benefits received by the department from external organisations are recorded by each business unit within the department. Access to information recorded would be considered under FOI provisions.

The ABS "gifts and benefits policy" draws on the Public Service Commission's gifts and benefits policy.

The chief financial officer maintains a "register of gifts". The register documents offers and/or acceptance of gifts and benefits.

Any acceptance of a gift or benefit by an ABS officer must be defensible, able to withstand public scrutiny and apply to the APS code of conduct.

Any gifts with a nominal value in excess of $20 must be declared to the chief financial officer and recorded on the register of gifts.

Information on the ABS' register of gifts may be available under the FOI Act.

Department officials are advised not to accept gifts in the course of their work. The exceptions are in circumstances where it is appropriate to accept a gift or benefit – such as when refusal could cause cultural offence or where attendance at an event is an important means of developing and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders.

All gifts and benefits received by departmental employees must be disclosed and entered into a register. Employees must also discuss the gifts they receive with their managers. With the exception of gifts where a manager has determined that the retail value is less than $100 and there is no potential conflict of interest, all gifts remain the property of the department.

The gift register is not publicly available.

The department policies include:

The gift register is an internal departmental document accessible to all departmental staff.

1. All gifts should be disclosed to an employee's manager. Gifts of more than $20 value need to be formally registered.

2. To their manager, and where over $20 value, approval to accept a gift or benefit should be sought from the relevant branch or state/territory manager who will consult further with their group manager, the chief finance officer or the secretary as needed.

3. A record of all gifts and benefits accepted by department employees is maintained internally. Declarations are made for tax and asset management purposes but there is no requirement to make this register publicly available.

The department's policy on the receipt of gifts and benefits is that officials should not accept gifts or benefits in the course of their work.

However, there may be circumstances where it is appropriate to accept a gift or benefit, e.g. where refusal could cause cultural offence or where attendance at an event is an important means of developing and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders.

No gift or benefit (other than those of an inconsequential nature) may be accepted and retained without approval of a SES manager.

Details of gifts and benefits are documented in a register of gifts and benefits maintained by the relevant area in the department. These registers are not made public.

An excerpt from ASIC's policy:

What you must do - generally:

Generally, you should decline any gift or benefit offered by an external person in the course of, or related to, your work with ASIC and notify your senior executive (copied to your manager).

You must decline a gift or benefit in the following circumstances:

What you must do – special situations:

If you consider a special situation exists making it appropriate for you to accept a gift or benefit, you must:

In special situations such as these, the key consideration for your senior executive is that acceptance of the gift or benefit by you must not conflict, or be reasonably perceived to conflict, with the proper performance of your functions or duties at ASIC.

Record & notify:

You must personally record the details of any gift or benefit accepted by you or someone else where the gift or benefit is a direct result of your official duties in ASIC. You must keep this record with your detailed personal record that you keep in accordance with Part F of this guide.

You must notify:

Risk & security services will record the gift or benefit of value of greater than $100 in ASIC's gift register.

Gifts accepted of a value greater than $100 may become the property of ASIC.

The department has a policy for receiving gifts and benefits. Details of gifts and benefits are documented in a register in accordance with the policy.

An excerpt from the bureau's policy:

Officials, in the course of their work, may be offered gifts such as souvenirs, bottles of wine and personal items, or benefits, such as sponsored travel, hospitality, accommodation or entertainment. Generally, staff members should not accept gifts or benefits in the course of their work. However, there may be circumstances where it is appropriate to accept a gift or benefit. For example, where refusal could cause cultural offence or where attendance at an event is an important means of developing and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders. Staff members should carefully consider the appropriateness of a gift or benefit, before accepting or rejecting it. Gifts provided to officials in the course of their work immediately become relevant property when received.

Instructions – all staff:

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