State servants & electionsPSAY Conference18 November 2013

Who is a state servant?

• SSC Standards of Integrity & Conduct cover - public service departments, crown entities & DHBs, crown entity subsidiaries

• Local government - each Council has their own policy, should be no less than SSC guidance

• CPS Sector – check whether your organisation has a code of conduct or policy

• www.ssc.govt.nz/code-organisations/

In general, state servants …

• Have the same political rights and freedoms as other New Zealanders

• Must maintain political neutrality to work with current and future governments

• Must keep their jobs out of their politics and their politics out of their jobs

• And Senior State servants and those who engage directly with Ministers should exercise careful judgment

So as a citizen you can …

• Participate in and support union political activity

• Be a member of a political party

• Help with fundraising, assist with leaflet drops, take part in other forms of support

• Stand for election to Parliament

• Note: PSA is not affiliated to any political party, but we are politically active and will be running an election campaign in 2014

But maintain political neutrality …

• By being careful not to:– disclose information not in the public domain– criticise government policy which you have been

professionally involved – talk about issues you are working on– present yourself as representing your agency – be

clear that you speak in your private capacity– wear employer branded clothing– bring your employer into disrepute

• including through social media

Use of agency resources

• Agency premises - do not display party political material or carry out activities that could reasonably regarded as party political

• Do not use agency resources in ways that could be seen as breaching the principle of political neutrality

Standing for election

• Notify your employer of intention to seek selection as a candidate

• Senior State servants – need to be particularly careful to manage the implications of their candidacies

• Electoral Act 1993 - sets out which State servants are required to take leave from their positions if standing for Parliament

• Those not covered by Electoral Act - discuss with employer whether it may be desirable to take leave to preserve political neutrality

Managing the boundaries

• Check SSC Code of Conduct and guidance

• Check your agency’s code of conduct and guidance

• Inform your manager early– to avoid misunderstandings– ensure that the relationship between employment

responsibilities and the freedom to exercise civil rights is understood

– a courtesy, no surprises, not seeking permission

• Check with a delegate, who can escalate if needed

What else?

• What should a healthy state service in a democracy look like?

• Especially the balance between the rights and responsibilities of being a citizen and a state servant?

• What else to our members need to support this?

Useful links

• SSC, Integrity and Conduct www.ssc.govt.nz/integrityandconduct

• SSC (April 2010) Understanding the code of conduct – Guidance for State servants www.ssc.govt.nz/sites/all/files/UnderstandingtheCode-April2010.pdf

• SSC (4 May 2010) Political Neutrality Guidance www.ssc.govt.nz/political-neutrality-guidance

• SSC (May 2011) State Servants, Political Parties, and Elections: Guidance for the 2011 Election Period www.ssc.govt.nz/sites/all/files/Election-Guidance-2011.PDF

New Zealand Public Service AssociationTe Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi

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