Gifts, Benefits and Hospitality Policy and Register
Our staff are required to declare all offers of gifts, benefits and hospitality.
It is important that we maintain high levels of integrity and public trust.
In some cases, a gift, benefit or hospitality might look like special treatment. This could result in a conflict of interest.
Under our policy, the Ombudsman, her staff and contractors must:
- declare all offers of gifts, benefits and hospitality
- decline non-token offers of gifts, benefits and hospitality
- seek approval to accept the offer where an exemption applies.
All offers worth more than $50 are non-token offers.
Each financial year, we publish a register of offered gifts, benefits and hospitality.
Gifts, benefits and hospitality policy
The purpose of this policy is to set out the Victorian Ombudsman’s position on responding to offers of gifts, benefits and hospitality and providing gifts, benefits and hospitality.
This policy:
- supports staff and our organisation to avoid conflicts of interest and maintain high levels of integrity and public trust
- supports behaviour consistent with the Code of Conduct for Special Bodies
- requires staff, under clause 4.2 of the code, to comply with this policy.
This policy has been developed in accordance with requirements outlined in the Minimum Accountabilities for Managing Gifts, Benefits and Hospitality issued by the Victorian Public Sector Commission.
Download the Gifts, benefits and hospitality policy
Gifts, benefits and hospitality registers
Gifts, benefits and hospitality 2024–25