Mandatory integrity training for public servants but no Integrity Commission timetable

In a bid to arrest the decline in trust in government, Public Service Commissioner Peter Woolcott has announced training that will "reinforce integrity across all APS business areas and functions".

"Integrity is a driver of public trust," Mr Woolcott said on Tuesday.

"Our own integrity is something that we are able to control," he said to bureaucrats, after weeks of political fighting over decisions made by former sport minister Bridget McKenzie's office over grants handed out in the lead up to the 2019 election.

In that case the auditor general found Senator McKenzie's office over-ruled recommendations made by Sport Australia and awarded grants based on which electorates they were in.

"As public servants, we have a responsibility to take a values-driven approach to our work," Mr Woolcott said.

The training will be mandatory for all public servants and then become part of a new induction for all new recruits across the public service, regardless of department or agency.

"This will not be a simple tick-the-box exercise. Rather, it will be designed to build employees' understanding of integrity issues in their work environment.

"It will help to ensure that all APS employees are equipped to deal with a wide range of integrity-related situations."

Mr Woolcott said the training wouldn't simply be about compliance but about giving public servants practical tools for a complex environment.

Attorney-General Christian Porter said on Wednesday plans for a national integrity commission were "very well advanced" and that the legislation, which runs for 350 pages, is with his office.

Mr Porter would not say when the legislation would be put out for consultation, but only that the government wanted to take the time to get it right.

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In announcing a federal integrity commission in December 2018, the government said it expected a draft bill would be released before the end of 2019, but it is still yet to be seen.

While development of the training for public servants is in its early stages, it's expected it will combine an online element with face-to-face workshops.

Agencies that are already offering integrity training will also be consulted "and it will be tested to ensure that it resonates across all levels of the APS," a spokeswoman said.

"Consultation will also include with Australian jurisdictions and reflect best practice."

The training is likely to be first offered to new recruits to the public service and gradually rolled out to existing staff, and while it's a priority there is no fixed timetable yet for its broader introduction.