Public Sector Standards Commissioner


Ian McPhee AO PSM

Phone: (02) 6207 1866

About the Commissioner

The office of the independent Public Sector Standards Commissioner (PSS Commissioner) was established as a result of amendments to the Public Sector Management Act 1994 img-icn-extlink (the PSM Act) that took effect on 1 September 2016. It has replaced the office of the Commissioner for Public Administration.

The PSS Commissioner is appointed by the Chief Minister under section 142 of the Public Sector Management Act 1994 (the PSM Act).

The PSS Commissioner does not have staff with discrete responsibility for supporting the office. Instead the PSS Commissioner relies on the capacity of staff of the Workforce Capability and Governance Division, and in particular, the Public Sector Management Group and the Professional Standards Unit, to support the office.

The PSS Commissioner is independent of the ACT Public Service, reporting directly to the Chief Minister.

Roles and Functions

Section 144 of the PSM Act outlines the central functions of the Commissioner, which are to:

  • conduct investigations—
    • about a matter declared by the Chief Minister in the way prescribed; and
    • under an industrial instrument;
  • provide advice to the Chief Minister about matters arising from an investigation conducted by the Commissioner;.
  • in connection with an investigation conducted by the Commissioner—promote and provide advice about the public sector values, the public sector principles and the conduct required under this Act.

Misconduct investigations guidelines 658 KB
Misconduct investigations guidelines 248 KB


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