Requesting advice

Who can request advice?

The Integrity Commissioner may provide advice to ‘designated persons’, as defined in the Integrity Act 2009:

• a member of the Legislative Assembly;
• a statutory office holder;
• a chief executive of a public service entity;
• a senior executive;
• a chief executive of, or a senior executive equivalent employed in a government entity, who is nominated by the Minister responsible for administering the entity;
• a ministerial staff member who performs the role of chief of staff (however called) in the office of a Minister; and
• a person, or a person within a class of persons, nominated by the premier; and
• a person or, or a person within a class of persons, prescribed by regulation.

Within two years after ceasing to be a designated person or a ministerial advisor, a person may ask for the integrity commissioner’s advice on an ethics or integrity issue that arises from a post separation obligation.

All designated persons can seek advice with regard to their own issues involving ethics or integrity.

Requests for advice can also be made by:

• a Chief of Staff (however called) about a ministerial advisor if the Chief of Staff has given notice of the request to the Minister in whose office the ministerial advisor is employed, and
• a ministerial advisor who may ask for the Integrity Commissioners advice on an ethics or integrity issue involving themselves that may arise from a post-separation obligation.

How can I request advice?

Under Part 3 of the Integrity Act 2009 (Qld), members of the Legislative Assembly may request a meeting with the Integrity Commissioner on interests’ issues.

All other requests for advice must be made in writing and should contain sufficient information to allow the Integrity Commissioner to evaluate the issues concerned.

Requests should be sent to the Integrity Commissioner’s postal address or email:

Email: integrity.commissioner@integrity.qld.gov.au

By post:
PO Box 15290
CITY EAST QLD 4002

The Commissioner may also ask you for more information about your request in order to provide fulsome advice.

Who will see the Integrity Commissioner’s advice?

Any advice provided by the Integrity Commissioner is confidential and is exempt from disclosure under schedule 1, section 6 of the Right to Information Act 2009. Advice sought about another person cannot be released unless compelled by another Act.

Certain disclosures are authorised, and in some cases required, under the Integrity Act 2009 (Qld). These are set out in chapter 3, part 4 of that Act.