Queensland Ministerial Handbook

The Queensland Ministerial Handbook is part of the Governing Queensland suite of handbooks.

It has been designed to act as a single, simple user friendly reference for Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries and their staff in the running of the ministerial office.

Ministers and their staff operate in an environment of rigorous accountability. Their actions and expenditure may come under close public scrutiny as the public demands the highest standards of ethical behaviour and propriety from Ministers and ministerial staff.

Ministerial Services, Department of the Premier and Cabinet, acts on behalf of the Director-General to set predetermined standards and to seek explanation where necessary to ensure the highest standards of probity are maintained.

Summary

The handbook sets out the common policies, practices and procedures to be adopted in ministerial offices in relation to:

• financial management
• human resource management
• accommodation, travel and entertainment
• assets
• information technology security
• policy issues

As required and with the Premier's approval, Ministerial Services issues amendments and an updated index to ensure that the handbook remains current.

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Table of contents

• Foreword
• 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 Ministers Code of Ethics
  • 3.8 Ministerial Delegations
  • 3.9 Office of the Minister- Role and Function
  • 3.10 Pecuniary Interests Declaration
    • 3.10.1 Minister
    • 3.10.2 Office Staff
    • 3.10.3 Guidelines for the completion of the Pecuniary Interest Declaration
  • 3.11 Queensland Contact with Lobbyist Code
  • 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 Parliamentary Secretaries
    • 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 Qantas Business Travel
    • 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 Chauffeurs
    • 5.1.2 Other Staff
  • 5.2 Ministers
  • 5.3 Parliamentary Secretaries
  • 5.4 Former Premiers
• Ministerial Services
  • 6.1 Contact officers for inquiries
  • 6.2 Ministerial Services - role
• Appendixes
• Glossary

Last reviewed: 17 July, 2009

Last updated: 19 November, 2009

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