14 Probity and integrity

Governments are committed to efficiency, fairness, impartiality and integrity in all dealings. Probity is an important issue for government as a custodian of the community's assets.

A comprehensive probity plan is essential in all PPP projects and a Probity Practitioner (either an auditor or advisor) will be appointed for large, complex and unusually sensitive projects.

By adopting a clear probity process, all parties are assured of the integrity of the awarding process.

To ensure that the participation of related companies in a tender does not impact on the probity, competitiveness or cost of a project, the companies may be required to sign a probity process deed.

Each individual jurisdiction will have probity and process requirements relevant to commercial and PPP transactions including:

• public service codes of conduct or similar;

• probity policies or similar;

• procurement and probity process guidelines or similar; and

• legislative requirements and/or statutory directions.

The codes of practice and guidelines establish ethical principles and standards of behaviour for all parties involved and will apply to all procurement actions from calling for EOIs through to contractual execution and contract management actions.