Customer Advisory Groups

Code of Conduct

Principles

Members of the committee must:

  1. Ensure that the work of the committee is not compromised or affected by any direct or indirect pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest.
  2. Ensure the confidentiality of information dealt with by the committee.
  3. Act in good faith for proper purposes without exceeding their powers.
  4. Be frank and honest in their official dealings with each other.
  5. Act professionally and respectfully in meetings towards other members and WaterNSW and agency staff.

Confidentiality

  • Any member tabling a document may identify it as being of a confidential nature and seek the committee's agreement to the status. All members will treat information declared to be confidential appropriately.
  • Information available to members must not be used to obtain any advantage, whether direct or indirect, for themselves or for any other person or body.
  • Confidential information available to members must be used in ways that are consistent with the obligations of members to act impartially, with integrity and in the public interest.
  • Where confidential information is provided to a committee member, care must be taken to ensure that the information is kept secure and that numbers of copies are kept to the minimum necessary. If such information is to be disposed of by a committee member, it must be destroyed.
  • Members should avoid investments or business activities in relation to which they might reasonably be perceived to have access to confidential information that might give them an unfair or improper advantage over other persons.

    • Improper or Undue Influence

    CAG members must take care not to use their position on the committee to influence any other member of the committee, or WaterNSW employees, for the purpose of obtaining any advantage for themselves, or any other person or body, whether that advantage is direct or indirect.

    Public Resources

    Financial and human resources material are provided through the various government agencies in order that the committee is able to perform its functions. All these resources should be used for the work of the committee only and be used effectively.

    Gifts, Gratuities, Hospitality

    • Members must avoid giving any indication that gifts, gratuities or hospitality relating to their membership of the committee will be accepted, either for themselves or for any person or body, or that these may influence decisions.
    • Members may only accept token gifts and modest hospitality. Hospitality is modest when it is not more than the committee member would provide in return to that person, people or company.
    • If any gift, gratuity or hospitality of other than a token kind is offered, full and prompt disclosure must be made to the chair, or the full committee, as appropriate. Gifts of cash must never be accepted.

    Notification of Suspected Corrupt Conduct

    • Section 11 of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) Act 1988 requires that the principal officer of each public authority report to the Commission any matter that is suspected, on reasonable grounds, to concern corrupt conduct.
    • In the case of the committee, any matter that is suspected, on reasonable grounds, to concern corrupt conduct should be reported to the chair.
    • A member may report suspected corrupt conduct to WaterNSW.

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