The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has been allowed to survey the Australian Public Service (APS) on perceptions and experiences of corruption at the federal level. 

A decision was made during a recent Secretaries Board meeting by the heads of Australia's largest government departments.

NACC Commissioner Paul Brereton updated the Secretaries Board on the work of the national watchdog and sought their support for the public sector-wide survey. Commissioner Brereton's request was approved.

During the same meeting, Home Affairs Secretary Stephanie Foster provided an update on her department’s progress in addressing a recent review into the management of regional processing administration. 

The meeting's communique noted that Foster outlined “progress on implementing recommendations” from the February review.

The Board also discussed Australia's strategic outlook, focusing on government priorities, emerging risks, and other strategic issues. 

“The Board received an update on geostrategic issues from Ms Jan Adams AO PSM, Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Mr Greg Moriarty AO, Secretary of the Department of Defence,” stated the communique. 

Additionally, there was an economic and budget update provided by Jenny Wilkinson PSM, Secretary of the Department of Finance, and Victoria Anderson, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury.

Another key topic was the appointment of new diversity and inclusion champions. 

AG’s Department Secretary Katherine Jones will serve as the First Nations champion, Social Services Secretary Ray Griggs as the disability champion, and Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (DITRDCA) Secretary Jim Betts as the Cultural and Linguistic Diversity (CALD) champion. 

“The board thanked David Fredericks PSM for his dedication and contribution to making the APS a model employer for people with disability as disability champion,” the communique noted, while also acknowledging Griggs for his prior role as First Nations champion.

Additionally, the secretaries reviewed and endorsed revised Terms of Reference (TORs) for the Board, following a review concluded by former mandarin Rosemary Huxtable. 

They agreed to finalise governance arrangements, including the number of subcommittees, their purposes, terms of reference, membership duration, work programs, and mechanisms for reporting, by July.

The next Secretaries Board meeting is scheduled for June 12, 2024.