Queensland Ministerial Handbook

Good government rests on transparent, thorough processes that guide Ministers, their advisors, and professional public servants in the effective completion of their duties. Governing Queensland is a suite of policy and administrative handbooks designed to explain in an open way the processes of government in this State.

These handbooks are written firstly for Ministers, Members of Parliament, public servants and staff in Ministers’ offices, but they will be of interest to many other people who work with government agencies or who wish to influence government decisions. For serious students of government, Governing Queensland offers transparency about the policies and practices associated with our most important government institutions. Governing Queensland is available online at www.premiers.qld.gov.au in the Publications section. Governing Queensland will strengthen the public service by requiring high quality processes supporting effective government, and encouraging better integration of policy development, planning, implementation and evaluation.

Governing Queensland comprises five handbooks and a guide for members of Queensland government boards, committees and statutory authorities. Details of Queensland Cabinet, Executive Council and Parliamentary processes and the links between them are provided.

Governing Queensland includes:

• The Queensland Cabinet Handbook
• The Queensland Ministerial Handbook
• The Queensland Executive Council Handbook
• The Queensland Legislation Handbook
• The Queensland Parliamentary Processes Handbook
• Welcome Aboard: A Guide for Members of Queensland Government Boards, Committees and Statutory Authorities.

Governing Queensland describes the legislative development processes that this government follows, and provides details of the processes involved and the responsibilities of key participants. Its publication marks another achievement by my government in encouraging transparent and accountable practices in support of a stronger, more participative democracy.

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Table of contents

• Introduction
• Amendments
• Human Resource Management
  • 1.1 Employee Assistance Service
  • 1.2 Office staff
  • 1.3 Personal injury
  • 1.4 Personal Development
    • 1.4.1 Study and Research Assistance Scheme
    • 1.4.2 Learning and Development
  • 1.5 Workplace behaviour
    • 1.5.1 Workplace bullying
      • 1.5.1.1 Policy
      • 1.5.1.2 Definitions
      • 1.5.1.3 Discrimination and Sexual Harassment
      • 1.5.1.4 Effects of workplace bullying on the workplace and individuals
      • 1.5.1.5 Behaviours that do not constitute workplace bullying
      • 1.5.1.6 Responsibilities of Ministers and staff
      • 1.5.1.7 Referral officers
      • 1.5.1.8 Role of unions
      • 1.5.1.9 Employee assistance service
      • 1.5.1.10 Dealing with bullying
      • 1.5.1.11 Informal methods of resolution
      • 1.5.1.12 Formal methods of resolution
      • 1.5.1.13 Witnessing or becoming aware of workplace bullying
    • 1.5.2 Discrimination
      • 1.5.2.1 Policy
      • 1.5.2.2 Definitions
      • 1.5.2.3 Areas of Discrimination
      • 1.5.2.4 Discrimination in the Workplace
      • 1.5.2.5 Referral officers
      • 1.5.2.6 Vicarious liability
      • 1.5.2.7 Responsibility of Ministerial Services
      • 1.5.2.8 Responsibility of Ministers and staff
      • 1.5.2.9 Role of the Unions
      • 1.5.2.10 Procedures for resolution
      • 1.5.2.11 Internal resolution
      • 1.5.2.12 The informal process
      • 1.5.2.13 The formal process
      • 1.5.2.14 External resolution
    • 1.5.3 Sexual harassment
      • 1.5.3.1 Policy
      • 1.5.3.2 Definitions
      • 1.5.3.3 Referral officers
      • 1.5.3.4 Vicarious liability
      • 1.5.3.5 Responsibility of Ministerial Services
      • 1.5.3.6 Responsibility of Ministers and staff
      • 1.5.3.7 Role of the unions
      • 1.5.3.8 Procedures for resolution
      • 1.5.3.9 Internal resolution
      • 1.5.3.10 The informal process
      • 1.5.3.11 The formal process
      • 1.5.3.12 External resolution
    • 1.5.4 Code of Conduct
  • 1.6 Workplace health and safety
• Information Management
  • 2.1 Electronic mail
  • 2.2 Information security
  • 2.3 Privacy policy
  • 2.4 Internet Policy
  • 2.5 Ministerial records
    • 2.5.1 Management of Ministerial Records
    • 2.5.2 Disposal of Ministerial Records
    • 2.5.3 During a Minister's Term of Office
    • 2.5.4 Storage and Access
    • 2.5.5 Disposal Authority (PDF, 156 KB)
• Accountability and Ethics
  • 3.1 Accountability and budget process
  • 3.2 Administrative arrangements
  • 3.3 Gifts - received
  • 3.4 Gifts - made
  • 3.5 Indemnities
  • 3.6 Memberships of Boards, Committees or Councils
  • 3.7 Ministerial Code of Conduct
  • 3.8 Office of the Minister- Role and Function
  • 3.9 Declaration of Interests
    • 3.9.1 Minister
    • 3.9.2 Staff Members
    • 3.9.3 Completion of the Declaration of Interests
  • 3.10 Lobbyists Code of Conduct
  • 3.11 Ministerial Diaries
  • 3.12 Public Report of Ministerial Office Expenses
• Expenses relating to a Minister's Office
  • 4.1 Expenditure - allowable
    • 4.1.1 'Ministerial-Related' Expenditure
    • 4.1.2 'Departmental-Related' Expenditure
    • 4.1.3 'Whole of Government-Related' Expenditure
  • 4.2 Parliamentary Service support for the Office of the Minister
  • 4.3 Expenditure - not allowable
  • 4.4 Accommodation
    • 4.4.1 Office accommodation
    • 4.4.2 Refurbishment
    • 4.4.3 Parking
  • 4.5 Consultants
  • 4.6 Delegations
  • 4.7 Hospitality and Official Functions
    • 4.7.1 Hospitality - Minister
    • 4.7.2 Hospitality - Staff and Assistant Ministers
    • 4.7.3 Hospitality - Benefits Received
    • 4.7.4 Working Meals
    • 4.7.5 Political Party meetings
  • 4.8 Office equipment
  • 4.9 Partner's expenses
  • 4.10 Political Party Expenses
    • 4.10.1 Political party meetings
  • 4.11 Telecommunications
    • 4.11.1 Minister
    • 4.11.2 Staff
    • 4.11.3 Office
  • 4.12 Transportation
    • 4.12.1 Fines
    • 4.12.2 Ministerial parking station
    • 4.12.3 Motor vehicles
    • 4.12.4 Taxis
  • 4.13 Travel
    • 4.13.1 Absence by the Minister
    • 4.13.2 Air charter
    • 4.13.3 Whole-of-Government Travel Provider
    • 4.13.4 Cash advances
    • 4.13.5 Domestic Travel
    • 4.13.6 Frequent Flyer points
    • 4.13.7 Government aircraft
    • 4.13.8 Notification of movements by the Minister
    • 4.13.9 Overseas travel
    • 4.13.10 Passports
    • 4.13.11 Travel to and from the Electorate (office or home)
  • 4.14 Other
    • 4.14.1 Bereavements
    • 4.14.2 Christmas cards
    • 4.14.3 Credit cards
    • 4.14.4 Government executive diaries
    • 4.14.5 Petty cash
    • 4.14.6 Purchases
    • 4.14.7 Security
    • 4.14.8 Stamps
    • 4.14.9 Stationery
• Entitlements
  • 5.1 Staff
    • 5.1.1 Chauffeur/Assistants
    • 5.1.2 Other Staff
  • 5.2 Ministers
  • 5.3 Assistant Ministers
  • 5.4 Former Premiers
• Ministerial Services
  • 6.1 Contact officers for inquiries
  • 6.2 Ministerial Services - role
• Appendices
• Glossary

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